BIOTECH CHINA will be opening its gates for business for the fourth time from 2 to 4 June. A well-established meeting-place for the biotech community, the event in Shanghai offers Chinese companies in the biotech and life sciences sector, and their counterparts from across the world, excellent opportunities to establish new business contacts on the vibrant Chinese market. "The unique combination of an exhibition, lecture program and extensive supporting program makes BIOTECH CHINA an ideal platform for showcasing innovative products, as well as encouraging new business and exchanging knowledge and ideas", states Martin Folkerts, Director Global Fairs, Deutsche Messe Hannover.

According to Deutsche Messe Hannover, the organizers of this three-day event in the Shanghai International Exhibition Center (INTEX), the number of exhibitors and the total display area booked are likely to match the same high level as last year. "We are confident that 2010 will build on the success of the previous event", says Folkerts. Some 121 exhibitors from 11 countries have registered, and will be showcasing their products and innovations on a total display area of 1,317 square metres.

The focus of BIOTECH CHINA will be on biotechnological applications and marketable products in the key segments of medicine, pharmaceuticals, nutrition, agriculture, industry and environmental protection, as well as laboratory equipment, bioengineering and services.
 
Practice-oriented lectures and panel discussions complement the exhibition program. The "Innovation Forum", which is an important part of the event, will provide exhibiting companies and research institutes with a further opportunity to showcase their capabilities to a professional audience attracted from China and further afield. 

In another program element, the "Sci-Tech Seminar" on the second day of the trade show, ten Chinese scientists will speak on their latest research findings.

A further major part of BIOTECH CHINA is the supporting program. For example, two prizes will be awarded during BIOTECH CHINA: the "Contribution Award", which recognizes the work of Chinese companies that have made a significant contribution to science, and the equally prestigious "Scientific Instrument Innovation Award." The latter award comes from BIOTECH CHINA, in cooperation with the Shanghai Science & Technology Committee and the Chinese Academy of Science. It is bestowed on exhibiting companies at BIOTECH CHINA organized within the "Shanghai Scientific Instrument R&D Service Association" in appreciation of their innovative efforts.

The supporting program planned for exhibitors and delegations from abroad includes the opportunity to visit the Shanghai Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, the location of innovative research institutes and numerous biotech and pharmaceutical companies. Accordingly, plans have been made to visit the companies Shanghai Genomics und Shanghai Upper Bio-Tech-Pharma Co. Ltd. located at this site.

To coincide with BIOTECH CHINA, the German project Brücke Osteuropa e.V., an association that promotes economic and technological cooperation with Eastern Europe and China, and the Federation of German Biotech Companies (VBU) have collaborated on the organization of a trip to China, which includes a visit to BIOTECH CHINA on 3 June. This trip is linked to efforts of the German Ministry for Economics to promote international technological cooperation and is geared to companies and research institutes in the fields of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and medical technology. Further information on the trip to China can be found at www.eastbridge.de/Biotech-China-2010/.

China remains one of the fastest growing future-proof markets in Asia. China's biotech industry has been actively encouraged through a national development program scheduled for 2006-2010. One prime target was to achieve biotech production worth 500 to 800 billion RMB (60-95 billion euros) by 2010. Since 2005, as part of a multi-stage program, the country's National Development and Reform Commission has designated 22 national biotech industrial bases. The key centres are the Yangtse Delta (Shanghai), the Pearl River Delta (Canton), the Peking/Bohai Bay region (Tianjin) and Chongqing (West China). Approx. 80 percent of China's biotech market potential is concentrated in these four regions.