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Official launch of Amsterdam BioMed Cluster

Amsterdam based biomedical companies, academic research institutions and medical centres have begun working together under the name of the Amsterdam BioMed Cluster. The cluster has been created in order to optimize access and effective use of the most renowned features of the research institutes and medical centres of Amsterdam.

The aim behind the cluster is to demonstrate the expertise, products and services of the region to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The Amsterdam BioMed Cluster was officially launched at the BIO 2005 conference in Philadelphia.

The Amsterdam Biomed Cluster includes the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU), the Universiteit van Amsterdam (UvA), the VU and AMC medical centres, and eight dedicated scientific institutes, including the Netherlands Cancer Institute and the Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation, as well as 42 biotech companies (including spin-offs and local branches of international companies) such as Agendia and Primagen. The cluster as a whole employs more than 20,000 highly qualified professionals.

Local government and various other organizations, including the Amsterdam Foreign Investment Office, Science Park Amsterdam, AMC Medical Business Park and the Amsterdam Chamber of Commerce are supporting the Amsterdam BioMed Cluster.

The BIO Convention 2005 was held in Philadelphia 19 - 22 June and was the world's largest annual biotechnology conference, where 20,000 biotechnology and life science professionals and top biotech executives from over 60 countries came together to network and learn about the latest developments in the field. Attached is a brochure for the Scandanavian Pavillion at the event, which had representatives from many different organisations such as Medicon Valley, Tekes, ISA, Copenhagen Capacity and Position Skane.

Source: The Amsterdam BioMed Cluster