Third Meeting of the Working Group on Communication and Public Relations

BIO Deutschland’s Working Group on Communication and Public Relations met in Munich for the third time since its establishment in November 2010. The main topic on the agenda was to evaluate the measures chosen to achieve the aims set and to plan future meetings and further activities.

Communication by the association was intensified by setting up Biothek (data, facts and background information for journalists) and using Twitter (there have been over 500 tweets by BIO Deutschland since the beginning in August 2011). This was also reflected in more positive reporting on biotech entrepreneurs and the branch in general in the national media in Germany.

The communications experts in the member companies had the opportunity to share their experiences and strengthen the network during three webinars on the topics of online PR, search engine optimisation (SEO) for press releases, and social media (these topics were chosen on the basis of a member survey) and the working group’s meetings (on 26 May and 9 December.)

In 2012, the working group will continue to strengthen reporting on biotechnology in the sector. Various activities were planned for this task, such as a network of sector specialists whose contact details can be given to journalists with concrete inquiries. The working group will also meet at several sector trade fairs during the year in order to further intensify the exchange of opinions and information.

BIO Deutschland members are welcome to request a copy of the minutes from the association’s office.

The working group’s next meeting will take place during Analytica in Munich (17 – 20 April 2012).