International Council of Biotech Associations (ICBA) and EuropaBio National Associations Council (NAC) convene in London

The EuropaBio National Associations Council (NAC) and the International Council of Biotech Associations (ICBA) met in London on the invitation of the UK BioIndustry Association (BIA). The programme of the NAC meeting included reports from the chairs of the three sectoral councils – Healthcare Biotech, Industrial Biotech and Agricultural Biotech – and a report from EuropaBio Secretary General Joanna Dupont. In addition, the European umbrella association for biotechnology presented current lighthouse projects and reported on the activities of the SME Platform, which is chaired by BIO Deutschland board member Peter Heinrich. The ICBA met the following day for a strategy session. The managing directors and secretary generals of national biotech associations from around the world discussed current trends and their implications for the sector in general and the ICBA’s future strategic direction in particular. The ICBA was established in 2014 and its administrative functions are carried out by BIO USA in Washington, D.C. Steve Bates from the BIA is currently serving as Chair of the ICBA and Siya Ntutela from AfricaBio as its Vice-Chair.