This year more than 5 000 delegates are expected to attend Bio2Biz, which takes place alongside Insite 2008 at the Sandton Convention Centre from September 15 to 17.
Founded by South Africa’s four biotechnology regional innovation centres (Brics) — BioPAD, Cape Biotech, LIFElab and PlantBio — Bio2Biz is a forum that aims to expose business and industry to international biotechnology trends and developments, while ensuring the country is in line with the international world in terms of the developments in biotechnology.
“Ultimately it gives both industry and business the opportunity to work together and utilise this technology to the country’s best advantage,” says chief executive of BioPAD, Dr Joe Molete.
“In South Africa, biotechnology can make an important contribution to the country’s national priorities, particularly in the area of human health, such as HIV/Aids, malaria and TB, food security and environmental sustainability,” says Molete.
“To promote this, and in line with government’s strategy on biotechnology, Bio2Biz SA was first hosted by the four Brics in South Africa in 2004. Since then, Bio2Biz has grown from strength to strength, attracting participation from business leaders and the biotechnology industry.”
The South African government has focused on biotechnology as one of the country’s most promising future innovation platforms, of key importance in the promotion of economic and social development. The government is committed to establishing and funding this technology. “Most importantly, perhaps, is the development of greater human capacity in the area of science and technology in South Africa,” says Molete.
“It is of vital importance that we increase the number of experts in specific areas, as well as the number of women and people from previously disadvantaged communities.”
In this respect, biotechnology is a technology of the future, and the challenge at hand is to build up substantial human capital in this area.
Biotechnology has applications across the board, especially in response to issues being faced by Southern African countries at the moment, most notably the Aids epidemic and the food crisis the subcontinent is facing. These and other issues will be hot topics at the Bio2Biz forum.