21/06/2004
NI biotechnology sector continues to grow
Northern Ireland’s biotechnology sector has grown by a third over the last three years in terms of jobs created, Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Paul Murphy has said.
Mr Murphy was speaking at the launch of 'BioIreland 2004 - Stepping Stones to Success', a top level biotech conference being held at the University of Ulster’s Coleraine campus this week.
Over 200 delegates from every continent have gathered at the Causeway Coast venue to explore emerging opportunities for partnership and growth in the biotechnology sector.
“Biotechnology is a priority for the Government, in the UK as a whole as well as in Northern Ireland,” Mr Murphy said. “Fifty of the world’s 75 top selling medicines were discovered and develop with tin the UK - and currently we have almost twice as many new products in clinical trials as out nearest European competitors.
"Northern Ireland also has an important role to play in delivering the UK’s key bioscience development target, which is to ensure that, by 2015, the UK is a global force in bioscience second only to the USA," he added.
Northern Ireland biotechnology sector now has 50 companies which together employ 4,000 people, contributing over £200m in revenue to the Province’s economy annually.
The BioIreland2004 conference comes just a week after scientists and business representatives from Ireland, north and south, attended Bio2004 in San Francisco, the world's most important annual biotechnology event, at which important international links were forged.
The Coleraine conference will see scientists and business representatives from the San Francisco showcase visit Northern Ireland to consolidate and extend these links.
(MB)
Mr Murphy was speaking at the launch of 'BioIreland 2004 - Stepping Stones to Success', a top level biotech conference being held at the University of Ulster’s Coleraine campus this week.
Over 200 delegates from every continent have gathered at the Causeway Coast venue to explore emerging opportunities for partnership and growth in the biotechnology sector.
“Biotechnology is a priority for the Government, in the UK as a whole as well as in Northern Ireland,” Mr Murphy said. “Fifty of the world’s 75 top selling medicines were discovered and develop with tin the UK - and currently we have almost twice as many new products in clinical trials as out nearest European competitors.
"Northern Ireland also has an important role to play in delivering the UK’s key bioscience development target, which is to ensure that, by 2015, the UK is a global force in bioscience second only to the USA," he added.
Northern Ireland biotechnology sector now has 50 companies which together employ 4,000 people, contributing over £200m in revenue to the Province’s economy annually.
The BioIreland2004 conference comes just a week after scientists and business representatives from Ireland, north and south, attended Bio2004 in San Francisco, the world's most important annual biotechnology event, at which important international links were forged.
The Coleraine conference will see scientists and business representatives from the San Francisco showcase visit Northern Ireland to consolidate and extend these links.
(MB)
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