The biotech and pharma in the post-ECFA era

Taipei hosts BioBusiness Asia forum Taipei Times 2011-07-19 This year's BioBusiness Asia (BBA) began yesterday in Taipei with the goal of fostering a favorable investment environment, and promoting research and development in the field of biotechnology. The two-day forum was expected to draw more than 300 venture capitalists, biotechnology experts in the medical field and pharmaceutical professionals from around the world, according to the semi-official Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI). Under the theme "New Asia Paradigm for Creating Biotechnology Business," the forum will feature one-on-one meetings. About 16 manufacturers of pharmaceuticals and medical instruments are expected to meet today with more than 100 local and foreign companies to discuss cutting-edge technologies and products. For the first time in the 10-year history of the BBA, Hong Kong has sent a delegation. Hong Kong is aiming to become a major player in biotechnology and it is moving aggressively into the field, the organizers said. At the opening ceremony, Shau Yio-wha (邵耀華), director of ITRI's Biomedical Technology and Device Research Laboratories, said that since the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) between Taiwan and China took effect, international biotechnology companies from abroad have been looking to establish links with Taiwanese companies in an effort to access the Chinese market.