From left: Matt Moran, director, BPCI; Aidan Gough, acting CEO, InterTradeIreland; Oliver O’Connor, chief executive, IPHA; and Dominic Carolan, CEO, NIBRT. Image: Conor McCabe Photography
BioPharma Ambition, a global conference showcasing innovative medical, research and training advancements in healthcare, returns for a two-day event in 2018.
“BioPharma Ambition will bring together global speakers within the biopharmaceutical industry and the research community across the world to discuss the latest issues for this very important industry,” said Matt Moran, director of BioPharmaChem Ireland (BPCI) and one of the founding partners of BioPharma Ambition, at the launch of the second iteration of the international biopharma industry convention.
BioPharma Ambition returns to Dublin on 21 and 22 February 2018 with speakers from innovative companies such as DeCode Genetics and Stratatech, as well as industry staples such as Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson.
Fostering innovation
BPCI, an Ibec group, teamed up with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) and the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) to promote the biopharmaceutical industry in Ireland through this two-day event, which was established in 2016.
The event brings together globally renowned experts to discuss the latest research and developments for the industry. “Being from a manufacturing background, my expectation is that we will be able to bring state-of-the-art manufacturing solutions to a lot of the attendees at the conference,” said Dominic Carolan, CEO of NIBRT.
The underlying theme of the 2018 event will be about fostering a global environment where innovation can thrive, and IPHA chief executive Oliver O’Connor wants to see this carried right through to adoption by health services. “It’s very important that we not only develop, produce [and] research innovative medicines in Ireland but they should be adopted in our health services – and, indeed, in Europe,” he said.
International policy leaders, renowned researchers and senior industry personnel are all expected to attend the multi-platform event that will combine keynote talks, panel discussions and an industry showcase.
The line-up of speakers will include representatives from regulatory bodies such as the Health Products Regulatory Authority, as well as David Chesney, former director at the US Food and Drug Administration, and Nathalie Moll, the newly appointed director general of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations.
Biopharma in Ireland at a glance
An event such as BioPharma Ambition puts this industry on the world’s stage, showcasing Ireland as a hub for biotech manufacturing, testing, and research, development and innovation (RD&I) to its global counterparts.
According to Ibec, the biopharmaceutical industry generates annual revenue of €66bn in Ireland alone. Ireland is also the European Union’s largest net exporter of medicines, and 10 of the world’s top drug companies have significant facilities here.
“Currently, more than 28,000 people work within the industry here, but with the right investment from policymakers, we could see that figure rise to more than 36,000 by 2020,” said Moran in a statement.
“To remain the global location of choice for the development and manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals, and to help the industry navigate Brexit uncertainty, it is essential that the Government increases investment in education, research and development for our industry. An increase in spending on science, technology and innovation to 2.5pc of GDP by 2020 would be an important step in the right direction,” he added.
