Europe’s best biotech SMEs: Apply now to the 4th European Most Innovative Biotech SME Award
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The search for this year’s most innovative biotech SME in Europe has begun as EuropaBio launch a call for applications for the 4th annual Most Innovative European Biotech SME Award 2013. With a €10,000 cash prize and free membership of EuropaBio to be won, the award is expected to once again attract large amounts of applications from right across the EU and all sectors of biotech: healthcare, agriculture and industry.
The award aims to showcase European Biotech SMEs that have developed an innovative solution to technical, social and environmental problems. The winner will be chosen by a high-level judging panel consiting of G. Steven Burrill, Founder and CEO of Burrill and Co; Welsh MEP Dr Kay Swinburne, Belgian MEP Dr Philippe De Backer; Tom Saylor, CEO of Arecor and Chair of EuropaBio SME Platform; and Nathalie Moll, Secretary General of EuropaBio.
The Award will be presented during the first ever European Biotech Week at an event that will showcase the outstanding accomplishments of the top five candidates. As with previous years, expected attendees include high level European policy makers, venture capitalists and SME funding experts, CEOs of large biotechnology companies as well as biotech product end users and the media.
Tom Saylor, Chairman of the EuropaBio SME Platform stated: “Last year we were delighted to see such large growth in the number of applications for the EuropaBio Most Innovative Biotech SME Award and we hope this year will see an even bigger increase. The award is an aknowledgment of the impact SMEs have on creating and retaining world-class excellence in research, innovation and science here in Europe. Innovative SMEs are vital, not only for job creation but for meeting many of society’s greatest environmental, agricultural and healthcare requirments. As investment from the private sector across Europe continues to stagnate, it is essential that a workable funding framework programme, such as the incentives laid out for SMEs under the European Commission 8th Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Funding- Horizon 2020, is in place so that the products invented in Europe make it to the European marketplace. ”
Nathalie Moll Secretary General of EuropaBio commented on the significance of the timing of this years award: “The first ever European Biotech Week will take place througout the EU from 30 September until 04 October this year with a series of seminars, career advice, public events, science experiements and much more to really engage the general public and educate about the importance of innovation and science to our everyday lives. The EuropaBio Most Innovative Biotech SME Award is perfectly suited to take place during this week as SMEs are the lifeblood of the biotech industry- without them we would not have many of the innovative solutions in healthcare, agriculture and industry that are impacting our daily lives.”
The application phase is open from 06 May until 10 June 2013. Applications forms can be downloaded from the EuropaBio website: www.europabio.org
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For further information, please contact:
Rosalind Travers,
Manager, Communications & SME Platform
About EuropaBio
EuropaBio is the European Association for Bioindustries, bringing together bioscience companies from all fields of research and development, testing, manufacturing and distribution of biotechnology products. It has 56 corporate members, 14 associate members and Bio Regions and 19 National Biotechnology Associations- representing some 1800 small and medium sized enterprises across Europe
Its members are involved in research, development, testing, manufacturing and commercialisation of biotechnology products and processes, and have a wide range of activities: human and animal health care, diagnostics, bio-informatics, chemicals, crop protection, agriculture, food and environmental products and services.
About the SME Platform
EuropaBio’s SME Platform focuses its activities on highlighting challenges and financial constraints that biotech SMEs face, and developing policy recommendations to optimise EU and member state funding instruments for biotech SMEs. The SME Platform brings together CEOs, of SMEs, National Biotech Associations, Venture Capitalists and private banks, European financial institutions, representatives from the EC, and other interested stakeholders