Biotechnology sector in Cologne for second time / More than 100 exhibitors at Bio-Gen-Tec Forum NRW

Cologne (PROTEXT) - The biotechnology sector is meeting upfor two days in Cologne later this month. Bio-Gen-Tec Forum NRWfrom 29 February to 1 March gives experts in the sector thechance to get up to date with developments in this up-and-comingbusiness field at workshops, company presentations and aparallel exhibition. A special service under the banner "Biotechmeets Pharma" will try to bring together prospective jointventure partners from medium sized pharaceuticals companies andbiotech firms. Bio-Gen-Tec-NRW, an initiative of the NorthRhine-Westphalia (NRW) state government, is expecting to hostmore than 1,000 visitors. Over 100 exhibitors from North Rhine-Westphalia and the rest of Germany are displaying their productsand services.

The workshops will be tackling topics on forming a companyand continuing corporate development, such as start-up andexpansion financing, for example, official licensing proceduresand identification, strategies for opening up interntionalmarkets, and patent information systems. In addition, areas suchas marketing and corporate communications as well as bioethicswill be discussed.

The forum has high-profile support. NRW's premier WolfgangClement and Cologne's first mayor Harry Blum will be opening theevent together. At a joint press conference, NRW's economicsminister designate, Ernst Schwanhold, and NRW science ministerGabriele Behler will be introducing a common initiative onbiochip technology. The well-known US researcher and author CarlDjerassi, famous as "the father of the Pill", will be giving theopening lecture.

The development of biotechnology in North Rhine-Westphaliawill be the subject of a further press conference by the Bio-Gen-Tec-NRW state initiative. This will focus on the lateststatistics about company formations. Under the label"BioCologne", the city of Cologne and Cologne city savings bank,the main sponsors, will be presenting a forum on developmentprospects for biotechnology in Cologne.

The international meeting of the sector at KölnMesse (Colognetrade fair centre) follows on from the success of the first Bio-Gen-Tec Forum NRW in 1999. With visits from more than 1,000specialists from the field and 65 exhibitors present, as well as90 partnership contacts, it immediately took its place as one ofthe leading events in the sector.

For advance information those interested can find out more atwww.bio-gen-tec-nrw.de. The service promoting joint ventures canbe booked at www.biogentec.kongress.net. ots Original TextService: Bio-Gen-Tec-NRW e.V. Internet: http://www.newsaktuell.deContact for press: Steffen Reich Bio-Gen-Tec-NRW e.V. Tel:0221/949824-24 Fax: 0221/949824-44 e-mail: reich@biogentec.dehttp://www.biogentec.de Postal address: Eupener Strasse 159 50933Cologne, Germany For press conference participants: a) BioChipInitiative 29 February, 11.30-12.00, Press Centre Bio-Gen-TecForum NRW, KölnMesse (Cologne trade fair centre) b)Biotechnology in NRW 29 February, 12.00-12.30, Press Centre Bio-Gen-Tec Forum, NRW, KölnMesse Please reply as follows: by fax:+49 0221/949824-44 or by mail to:

BioGenTec NRW SteffenReich Eupener Strasse 159 50933 Cologne

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