More than 600 venture capitalists will converge with some of the Europe's leading life sciences companies on May 21-22 when Glasgow hosts the prestigious BioEquity Europe 2007 conference
Europe's largest investment conference for the life sciences sector is returning to Scotland this summer.
It will be the second time that Scotland has hosted the conference following its successful run at Edinburgh in 2004.
Scottish Enterprise is again acting as regional host for the conference and has played a major role in securing the event's return.
Scotland has one of the fastest growing life sciences sectors in Europe.
Around 15 per cent of the UK's life science companies are based north of the border, adding up to more than 590 organisations employing approximately 29,500 people.
Ken Snowden, director of Scottish Enterprise's life sciences team, said: "BioEquity Europe is the single most important funding event in Europe for the life sciences sector and hosting the conference can generate huge benefits for the host country".
After an incredibly successful few years for Scotland's life sciences sector, finance remains the key to its continued success.
Life sciences businesses, in particular, continue to have difficulty in accessing the finance they need to enable them to expand and grow.
"We will have some of Europe's leading investors, bankers and analysts in Scotland and we will be making every effort throughout the conference to reinforce our world class capabilities in the life sciences sector and introduce them to Scottish companies which have the biggest potential for growth".
The two-day conference will involve 75 presentations from leading European life sciences companies making a pitch for new investment.
Competition to make it on to the presentation line-up is usually fierce and companies are selected by an independent panel for their potential to make a major contribution to the development of the European life sciences sector in terms of their technology, management or market opportunity.
In 2004, three Scottish companies made it on to the shortlist - Ardana Biosciences, Cyclacel, and Laxdale - and Scottish Enterprise is hopeful that Scotland will again have a strong showing at this year's conference.
Ken Snowden added: "In recent years, there have been some fabulous success stories for Scottish life sciences companies.
"The growth of companies such as Optos and Pro Strakan have been fundamental to growing a strong cluster of indigenous companies with world leading capabilities.
"We have a number of great young entrepreneurial companies who have the potential to follow in their footsteps and this event will hopefully act as a springboard to their success".
Joining forces with Scottish Enterprise in supporting BioEquity Europe 2007 will be leading global professional services company Ernst and Young as well as ITI Life Sciences, the Bio Industry Association, and Connect.
Bruce Gellatly, Ernst and Young's Scottish Life Sciences Leader, said: "There are signs that the life sciences industry is moving into the investment mainstream and if the present trends continue, the industry globally should be profitable by 2010.
"Finance continues to be vitally important for if Scotland is to maintain its success as a global leader in life sciences".
Eleanor Mitchell, acting chief executive officer of ITI Life Sciences, added: "This important industry event provides a great opportunity for Scotland to showcase the strengths of its life sciences sector to some of the world's most innovative biotech companies and the financiers behind them.
"We hope to leave them with the view that Scotland provides an excellent environment in which to do business".
Andy McNair, managing director of Connect Scotland, said: "Connect Scotland is happy to be part of the BioEquity regional host committee and to support Scottish Enterprise in its role as regional host.
"BioEquity provides an unrivalled platform for those committed to building and investing in ambitious biotech companies."
