An international confederation of biotech bodies announced the formation of the International Council of Biotechnology Associations (ICBA) today, with the purpose of advocating for public policies that support the growth of the innovative biotechnology industry worldwide.
Jim Greenwood, BIO’s President and Chief Executive Officer, was elected ICBA Chairman, and Nathalie Moll, Secretary General of EuropaBio, was elected Vice Chair, each serving a two-year term. The Council will meet annually at the BIO International Convention.
With the biotech sector facing challenges and opportunities that cross borders, the formation of the ICBA is “an important step that allows us to better coordinate, organize and face these issues around the world together,” said Greenwood.
Moll added that the Council “will advocate for more efficient and effective governance, science-based regulatory systems and the right framework conditions for competitiveness and innovation to ensure faster and more equitable access to biotech products and processes for patients… around the world.”
ICBA Founding Members are as follows:
AfricaBio – Africa
ASSOBIOTEC – Italy
Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises – India
AusBiotech – Australia
Belgian Biotech Association – Belgium
BIO Deutschland – Germany
BioIndustry Association – United Kingdom
BIOTECanada – Canada
Biotechnology Industry Organization – United States of America
EuropaBio – Europe
Foro Argentino de Biotecnologia – Argentina
German Association of Biotechnology Industries – Germany
HollandBIO – Netherlands
Hungarian Biotech Association – Hungary
Japan Bioindustry Association – Japan
Norwegian Bioindustry Association – Norway
PeruBiotech – Peru
Portugal’s Biotechnology Industry Organization – Portugal
Spanish Bioindustry Association – Spain
Swiss Biotech Association – Switzerland
Source: PharmExec
