6th Swiss-Scandinavian Bio-Business Seminar

The 6th Swiss-Scandinavian Bio-Business Seminar took place at the Swiss Stock Exchange in Zurich on February 8, 2012. The high-level partnering and investor conference, organized by the STC Team ACH in cooperation with the four Scandinavian embassies and Swiss and Nordic partners, gathered around 110 participants from Swiss and Nordic biotech and pharmaceutical companies as well as investors.

Per Thöresson, Swedish ambassador

The conference was opened by Marco Estermann, Head Issuer Relations, SIX Swiss Exchange, and a welcome note was given by H.E. Eric Scheidegger, Ambassador, Head of the Economic Policy Directorate, Deputy Director State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO and H.E. Per Thöresson, Ambassador of Sweden.

The panel debate was moderated by Patrik Frei from Venture Valuation

The panel discussion was moderated by Patrik Frei, Founder and CEO of Venture Valuation, and included representatives from big pharma companies as well as investors:
- Magnus Björsne, Business Development Director and VC Liaison, AstraZeneca
- Matthias Steger, Global Head Research and Technology Partnering, F. Hoffmann La Roche
- Sten Verland, Partner, Sunstone Capital
- Chandra P. Leo, Investment Advisor Europe, HBM Partners Ltd
- Stefan Brägger, Director Private Equity, CIO Global WMR, UBS AG
- Ravi Sodha, Senior Director, Business Development, Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Following the panel discussion 17 companies from Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland presented themselves and their research to the participants in two parallel sessions.

Around 170 individual matchmaking meetings took place during the event

The highlight of the 6th Swiss-Scandinavian Bio-Business Seminar 2012 were the over 170 individual one-to-one matchmaking meetings that took place in the afternoon session. Around 100 parcipants booked and held about 170 individual meetings.

"I really want to thank for a supremely organised and carried out event! I hope and think that all the organisers are interested for another round and I am already looking forward to start planning for next year's event", said Ambassador Per Thöresson.

For more information about the 6th Swiss-Scandinavian Bio-Business Seminar see the seminar website or contact the Swedish Trade Council via Hampus Nilzén.

(from left) Per Sjönell (Deputy Head of Mission, Swedish Embassy), H.E. Per Thöresson (Ambassador, Swedish Embassy), H.E. Eric Scheideffer (Ambassador, Head of the Economic Policy Directorate, Deputy Director SECO), Carsten Grönblad (Trade Commissioner, Swedish Trade Council)

The panel: Patrik Frei (Venture Valuation), Magnus Björsne (AstraZenecea) och Ravi Sodha (Actelion Pharmaceuticals)

Around 120 participant attended the 6th Swiss-Scandinavian Bio-Business Seminar in Zürich on February 8, 2012.