This news article was originally written in Spanish. It has been automatically translated for your convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace a human translator. The original article in Spanish can be viewed at La Biotecnología puede ayudar a las pymes del sector farmacéutico y cosmético

(Asebio) held in Barcelona a day aimed at small and medium-sized companies in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry

Biotechnology can help SMEs in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry

Drafting Interempresas10/04/2008

April 10, 2008

The Spanish Association of Biocompanies (Asebio) held in Barcelona on 28 March the day biotechnological solutions for SMEs in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic, whose main objective is to promote the use of biotechnology innovation in small and medium-sized companies in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industryas part of a programme for the promotion of biotechnology in mature sectors, promoted with the collaboration of MITYC.

This event was held at the headquarters of Barcelona Activa and is part of the activities of the national Innoempresa programme. This initiative aims to the incorporation of biotechnological innovations in Spanish SMEs. To this end, various sectoral meetings, as this day, to pursue the interaction of all actors in the innovation system and dissemination of biotechnology applications in the different sectors are planned.

Equally and in the framework of the Innoempersa project, moved to the attending companies the possibility to receive free biotechnology Diagnostics, carried out by a network of sectoral experts of 16 Spanish biotechnology companies, and be able to access a final phase which will be designed the necessary implementation plans for the implementation in place of the biotechnological innovations previously identified in the diagnosis.

Biotechnology proponents argue that it offers "interesting opportunities that increase the margin and added value of products, increase the efficiency of the processes, reduce the environmental impact or value by-products and waste, among other benefits".

Spanish SMEs improve their competitiveness

In the words of Luis Ruiz, Director of advanced and member of the Board directive of Asebio, this avant-garde initiative undertaken by Asebio constitutes "an important opportunity to ensure that Spanish SMEs improve their competitiveness and generate differential aspects from competition even in such competitive sectors as generic medications through the incorporation of solutions" "biotechnology".

Biotechnology can improve the competitiveness of Spanish SMEs in sectors such as generic medicines.

Applications available for the sector

-New technologies for support to research and drug development (Genomics, proteomics, cellular and animal models, etc.).

-Oral cosmetics and cosmocéuticos (products or ingredients with cosmetic properties that can be incorporated into the diet).

-Identification, extraction and manufacturing of principles derived from natural products of conventional and exotic sources (micro-organisms, algae, etc.)

-Research, development and production of active macromolecules (antibodies, proteins, nucleic acids) through the use of DNA technology recombinant.

-Biotechnological vaccine design.

-In vitro models for the testator's products and technologies.

-New biomolecules for new applications and/or improvements of existing ones.