The Biotechnology and Finance Forum (BFF) is a joint initiative of the European Commission and the EASD (European Association of Security Dealers) which aims to develop links between the scientific, industrial and financial communities in order to provide support for bio-entrepreneurs.

The fourth conference of BFF (set up by the European Commission's life sciences programme in 1997) will take place in Paris on 25 and 26 October 2001.

The conference will focus on ways to strengthen the biotechnology sector through networking and coordination with the public research sector, consolidation, mergers, alliances and partnerships. It will give researchers, industry, entrepreneurs, financiers an opportunity to network and allow young biotech companies to present their business plans to investors.

In this way, the conference hopes to go some way towards closing the gap between the US and European biotechnology sectors. The USA, although it has a smaller total number of companies, has a much higher turnover and invests more in RTD (research and technological development).

For further information on the 4th BFF conference, please contact:

Waldemar Kütt
Tel: +32-2-299 4145
Fax: +32-2-299 1860
E-mail: Waldemar.Kutt@cec.eu.int