BioWales 2012 - Event a success

Innovation, Translation and Commercialisation 

Major Success For BioWales 2012

BioWales, the international life sciences event, celebrated its 10th anniversary in March with a hugely successful conference, featuring a world-class speaker programme, plus an exhibition and brokerage that attracted some 525 delegates to the iconic Wales Millennium Centre overlooking the waterfront of Cardiff Bay.

It will be remembered for some time as the platform for the launch of the new life science strategic direction  for Wales by Prof. Sir Chris Evans, who chairs the Welsh Government Life Sciences Sector Panel, and for the announcement of a major £100m life sciences investment fund by the Minister for Business, Enterprise, Technology, Science, Edwina Hart AM.

The announcement demonstrated the Welsh Government's desire to invest in the growth of a Welsh life sciences sector that employs over 15,000 people in more than 300 businesses.

In his address to delegates, Sir Chris outlined how the sector in Wales "has the skills, technology and the people" but needs to grow to compete globally, with huge amounts of money moving around biotech worldwide. He outlined the work of the Sector Panel since its inception 12 months ago, and revealed plans for a Wales Life Science Hub. He welcomed the announcement of the venture equity fund as a "major Government commitment", and finished a rousing call to arms with the lines: ""Wales has to get noticed. Better to spend one day as a tiger than 100 years as a sheep."

The exhibition at BioWales provided a showcase for industry and academia of the innovative research and development taking place accross the sector, from Wales. UK and internationaly. The brokerage event brought together industry professionals to make valuable business connections in a speed dating style with over 800 meetings scheduled.

420 delegates joined the First Minister Rt Hon Carwyn Jones AM, at the  Gala Dinner which was held on the stage of the Wales Millennium Centre.  The evening  featured the Medlilink UK Life Science Business Awards, with entertainment from the Classical Brit Award winning choir, Only Men Aloud.

Following the success of the 10^th anniversary event, the Welsh Government is now drawing up plans for BioWales 2013.