Biovision’s ninth edition will take place in Lyon, France on June 5 and 6, 2014

Biovision speakers will debate economic and business challenges in the life sciences market
Top industry players, European Commission representatives, the WHO, the Innovative Medicine Initiative, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology and Chinese delegations will participate

Biovision’s ninth edition will take place in Lyon, France on June 5 and 6, 2014

Lyon, France, May 6, 2014 – Biovision, the annual forum devoted to future-oriented research in life sciences, today announces its program to bring a new level of awareness to the economic and business challenges faced by the life sciences industry.

This year the emphasis is on the need to further invest in new technologies to reach the growth potential that lies in disruptive innovation. The opening session kicks off with James Barlow, chair of technology and innovation management at Imperial College London. He focuses on the adoption, implementation and sustainability of innovation in healthcare systems. The session will then feature Robert-Jan Smits, general director of DG Research and Innovation at the European Commission, alongside other high profile delegates. The EC’s motto is ‘Health is Wealth’; meaning that by investing in research and innovation, we not only invest in health, but on a larger scale we also invest in a healthy workforce, a healthy economy and therefore lower public health bills. Joining Mr. Smits in this session will be Michel Goldman, CEO of the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), who will also discuss how to build and promote innovation networks in close collaboration with all stakeholders involved in pharmaceutical R&D.

The European Institute of innovation and technology (EIT) representative Alexander Von Gabain will share his insights about how best to invest in innovation and EIT’s distinctive strength: its entrepreneurial approach to innovation. Chinese representatives Ming-De Yu, the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association and Yao Fang, CEO at Fosun Pharma will also participate.

Other high-level speakers include Chris Viehbacher, CEO at Sanofi; Martin Friede, director, Technology Transfer Initiative at WHO; Bonnie Wolff-Boenisch, head of research affairs, Science Europe and Stanley Plotkin, emeritus professor of the University of Pennsylvania.

For a full list of speakers: http://www.biovision.org/biovision2014/speakers/index.html

“By investing in innovation within the life sciences sector, Europe could have a significant impact at many levels,” said Didier Hoch, chairman of Biovision. “This would foster better health for European citizens whilst improving the well-being of European companies. It would also bring about a positive impact on the workforce and public health spending.”