10 Slides, 8 FAQs, and a few words about Spanish biotech by Jorge Barrero General Secretary ASEBIO

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10 Slides, 8 FAQs, and a few words about Spanish
biotechbyJorge BarreroGeneral SecretaryASEBIO
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WHAT?

• In 2005, five hundred and thirty-eight companies
  were doing biotechnological research in Spain.
• Of them, only one hundred and twenty have
  biotechnology as their only field of activity.
  Those are the companies that make the core of the
  sector and are the main motor in terms of
  producing knowledge.
• They have more than 370 M in total sales
  revenues, they invest almost 320 M in RD (86
  of their sales revenues) and devote more than 25
  of their expenses to a highly qualified staff
  that exceeds 2.000 people.

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WHY?
Contribution () to the world scientific
production (papers) in biotech related areas
high standards of scientific production, and
changes in both cultural and regulatory
environment are main drivers for an emergent, but
promising, biotech sector
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WHICH one?

• By sectors, the red, sanitarian biotechnology,
  with its two sides, therapy and diagnosis, counts
  for more than the 50 of the sector, followed by
  the agro-feeding applications or green
  biotechnology (around 20). The rest is divided
  between the white, industrial biotechnology, with
  a 5,7, and a large number of companies that
  offer technological platforms with applications
  in several fields (23,6), like genomics and
  proteomics.

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HOW?

• Most companies totally dedicated to biotechnology
  have their origin in the public system of RD
  (spin-offs).
• However the biggest firms spun out from from
  consolidated industrial groups. This phenomenon
  has been essential for the grown of the Spanish
  sector and is the origin of a large number of the
  more veteran biotechnological companies
  (Pharmamar, Natraceutical, Puleva Biotech).

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WHEN?

•  

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WHERE?
Most of the companies operating in the sector are
concentrated in Madrid and in Catalonia. There
are other emergent poles such as Andalusia, the
Basque Country and Valencia.
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WHOSE?
Most of companys are still mainly owned by
their fouders but a lot of them got some money
(less than 2 M) from small seed capital
funds. Venture capital (as biotechnology) is
trying to overcome an historical delay in Spain.
This could change in the middle term due to some
new initiatives (both public an private).
Moreover, in Spain the possibility of trading
at the stock exchange is close to zero,
eliminating a fundamental funding source for
biotechnology companies and limiting the
participation of pre-IPO venture capital.
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WHO are us?
ASEBIO brings together companies, associations,
foundations, universities, technology and
research centres that undertake their activities
either directly or indirectly related to
biotechnology in Spain. ASEBIO has been the
biotechnology sector platform since 1999,
bringing the sector together and representing its
members interests before regional, national and
European governments. ASEBIO belongs to and
receives support from EUROPABIO, the European
Association of Bioindustries and it is a member
of the CEOE (The Spanish Confederation of
Business Organisations).
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MUCHAS GRACIAS For further information www.aseb
io.comjbarrero_at_asebio.com