"Russian Day" at BIO International Convention 2014
Biomedical technologies and spiritual maturity of the nation
The Skolkovo Foundation represented Russia at the "Russian day" of the congress and has already signed an agreement with a large biotech company BioMarin. It is one of the world leaders in the bioindustry in the development and implementation of innovative methods for the treatment of chronic degenerative diseases that were previously considered incurable.
The Russian delegation was headed by Vasily Belov, Vice President of the Foundation for Innovation, and Kirill Kaem, Vice President and Executive Director of the Biomedical technologies cluster. The tasks of the Skolkovo representatives at the congress are to tell foreign companies about the opportunities for the development of biotechnologies in Russia, to attract new high–class international startups and potential key partners of the biomedical technologies cluster of the foundation to cooperation.
Before the congress, representatives of Skolkovo visited the University of Southern California (USC), the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles (LA Children's Hospital). Vasily Belov and Kirill Kai share their impressions of what they saw.
"These are world–famous organizations and in fact they are private," Vasily Belov notes. – And they became so strong with the direct participation of patrons and sponsors. In Russia, this is sorely lacking. Before the revolution, patronage was a very powerful tool for the development of education and culture. In the West, now the fact of financial support from an individual, rich families is in fact a pass to the elite club of the elite, the club of those who are willing to invest their own money in support of national culture and education, and not in football clubs. The culture of patronage in Russia has essentially been lost, and it characterizes in many ways the spiritual maturity of the nation."
USC, Caltech and LA Children's Hospital also made a strong impression on Kirill Kaem, Executive Director of the biomedical technologies cluster: "This is the result of many years of properly managed investments in education and the biomedical industry. Hundreds of millions of dollars are donated by private investors for the construction of universities and hospitals. On the walls are the names of US citizens who gave money: from directors and actors to the richest families of America. This is very much supported in society." He also noted the highest level of scientific work at the University of Southern California.
Assessing the congress, Kirill Kayem stressed: "This is a place where new projects and venture capital meet. Global prospects and trends of biomedical growth are evaluated here, new connections are being built." BIO 2014 demonstrates a large number of cellular technologies, which, according to Kaem, reflects the global trend in biomedicine.
Vasily Belov comments on the mission of the Skolkovo Foundation at the congress: "Traditionally, the Skolkovo Foundation offers several forms of cooperation. The first is the implementation of projects under the Skolkovo resident program. It involves a set of certain serious benefits. For example, certification of medical equipment takes a year less time than in the USA. That is, by the time we enter the American market, we will already have experience in the clinical use of technology in Russia. The second form of cooperation is work between large international companies. That's how we signed an agreement with BioMarin."
The Foundation's Vice President for Innovation also noted the usefulness of the event in terms of finding new contacts and spoke about the preferences received by the foundation's foreign partners. "So far, unfortunately, Russia is not a major player in the bioindustry, as little is known about us. But we intend to change this situation. And we have the potential to dispel many myths and misconceptions. So, we are launching the Soft landing in Skolkovo project (soft adaptation in Skolkovo) – a set of serious services that significantly accelerate and facilitate the opening of a business in Russia."
In addition to partners, Skolkovo representatives also gained experience in holding thematic events at the congress. "Here at BIO, I really liked the One-on-One (one–on-one) form of meetings - a startup meeting with investors. This scheme is very effective. 26 thousand such meetings are planned at BIO, hundreds of meeting rooms are organized – a very useful experience," Vasily Belov shares his observations.
Also, 7 innovative companies of the biomedical technologies cluster took part in the congress. So, "Fusion Pharma" demonstrates a new drug for the treatment of leukemia, new targeted drugs in oncology, "Quantum Pharma", working with Nanosyn, Drexel Medical School and the University of California, presents "computer pills" to combat HIV and cancer. Together with Roswell Park Cancer Institute, two Russian companies will present their developments: Inkuron will introduce visitors to kuraxins, a new class of drugs in oncology, while Oncotartis will present a new approach to the treatment of oncological diseases. RosGenDiagnostics specializes in molecular diagnostics and individual selection of tumor therapy, Jointexell, based in the USA, Russia and Israel, shows a device for obtaining stem cells from adipose tissue and SL Onkolodzhi, a company with Boston roots, presents a method of viral cancer therapy.
Australia, Austria, Algeria, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Great Britain, Hungary, Germany, Hong Kong, EBD Group, Israel, India, Spain, Italy, Canada, China, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Thailand, Taiwan, Turkey, Russia presented their technological developments at BIO 2014. France, Czech Republic, Chile, Switzerland, Japan. Last year's anniversary BIO International Convention was attended by 15 thousand people.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru27.06.2014