SwedenBIO, the trade association for the Swedish life sciences sector, is expanding by setting up a new division, International Business Development and Promotion.
The ultimate aim with the new initiatives is to further stimulate the Nordic eco system for life science by increasing the amount of investment flowing into the sector, as well as the number of commercial and academic collaborations and company start-ups and expansions. In parallel and of equal importance is to support SwedenBIO members in their international activities, states the association in a press release.
“These new initiatives are designed to stimulate and smooth the path to greater cooperation between the Nordics and other sectors globally,” says Jonas Ekstrand, Director General, SwedenBIO.
Long-term collaboration with BIO
The organization has for example initiated a long-term collaboration with BIO in the U.S., and as a first step SwedenBIO’s event NLSDays will now use BIO’s partnering system. This will allow US investors, together with big pharma and medtech scouts to engage more efficiently with life science in the Nordics, as well as greatly increasing Nordic companies and organizations’ visibility through the large number of conferences that BIO arranges across the US and Asia.
Nordic Pavilions
The new SwedenBIO division will also gather Nordic partners for the first time at key international life science events. For example, there will be Nordic Life Science Pavilions at BIO Europe 2018 and BIO US Convention 2019. This will enable SwedenBIO and other Nordic organizations’ members to access international networks and partnerships, connect efficiently with potential investors and gain visibility in front of influential decision makers, states the association.
“We work with a number of Nordic organizations, not least for NLSDays. For the Nordic marketing at international conferences, like BIO and BIO Europe etc, it might be a variation in the participating organizations for the different events, but in general we work together with Business Finland, Health Capital Helsinki, Turku Health, Innovation Norway, Oslo Cancer Cluster, Medicon Valley Alliance, NOME Network, Business Sweden, Vinnova, Swelife and the regions, etc,” says Nicole Hanzon, Communications Manager at SwedenBIO.
A new investor meeting
SwedenBIO will also launch a new Nordic investor meeting, taking place in both the U.S. and in Europe.
To be held bi-annually in Boston (April 2019) and Europe (November/December 2019), the Nordic Life Science Investors Meeting will bring together members of the investment community, industry leaders, selected emerging fast-growth companies and technology innovators, reports SwedenBIO. The program will include private partnering activities, selected company pitches and networking opportunities. A key aim is to drive syndicated investments, acquisitions and other investment opportunities.
The Swedish-American Chambers of Commerce
In addition, SwedenBIO is together with the Swedish-American Chambers of Commerce of the USA (SACC-USA) working on an agreement that will greatly benefit both SwedenBIO’s members and the chambers. The idea is that the SACC-USA Chambers will be welcome at SwedenBIO and the members of SwedenBIO can use the local SACC Chambers when traveling in the USA. SACC is also one of the US partners for SwedenBIO’s new investors meeting being held in Boston next year.
At the next NLSDays, held in Medicon Valley, there will also be expanded capacity for exhibitors and an enhanced programme of activities, states SwedenBIO.
Photo of Jonas Ekstrand, Director General SwedenBIO, at the NLSDays 2017. Photographer: Anniki Skeidsvoll Edén
