Jubilee weekcelebrates biotechThe year 2013 is <strong>the</strong> 60th Jubilee year of <strong>the</strong> discovery of DNA.Dur<strong>in</strong>g those 60 years, <strong>the</strong> development of molecular geneticsand biotechnology has been tremendous.To celebrate <strong>the</strong> anniversary, EuropaBio, <strong>the</strong> bio<strong>in</strong>dustryorganisation of Europe, is organis<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> European BiotechWeek from September 30 through October 4, 2013. The weekcelebrates biotechnology and highlights biotech’s achievementsand opportunities through events across Europe.In F<strong>in</strong>land, <strong>the</strong> Biotech Week is coord<strong>in</strong>ated by <strong>the</strong> F<strong>in</strong>nishBio<strong>in</strong>dustries. It is organised <strong>in</strong> collaboration with Tekes, VTT,FIMM, <strong>the</strong> Luma Centre, and <strong>the</strong> Chemical Industry Federationof F<strong>in</strong>land, among o<strong>the</strong>rs. Dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> week, several sem<strong>in</strong>arsand o<strong>the</strong>r events will be organised, for example, <strong>in</strong> Hels<strong>in</strong>ki,Turku, and Tampere.In F<strong>in</strong>land, <strong>the</strong> European BiotechWeek is celebrated through events <strong>in</strong>Hels<strong>in</strong>ki, Turku, and Tampere.2013. The drug is designed for <strong>the</strong>treatment of vulvar and vag<strong>in</strong>al atrophy(VVA) due to menopause.The drug has been licensed to <strong>the</strong>Japanese Shionogi & Company, which islaunch<strong>in</strong>g it to <strong>the</strong> US and global market.In addition a Hels<strong>in</strong>ki based biotechnologycompany Oncos TherapeuticsLtd, focused on <strong>the</strong> development andcommercialisation of targeted oncolyticimmuno<strong>the</strong>rapies for solid tumors, wasgranted an orphan drug designation forCGTG-102, a granulocyte-macrophagecolony stimulat<strong>in</strong>g factor-cod<strong>in</strong>g oncolyticadenovirus (Ad5/3-D24-GMCSF)for <strong>the</strong> treatment of soft tissue sarcomaby <strong>the</strong> FDA and European Medic<strong>in</strong>esAgency (EMA).Health care strategyIn June 2013, a work<strong>in</strong>g group wasappo<strong>in</strong>ted to prepare <strong>the</strong> growth strategyfor health sector research, developmentand <strong>in</strong>novation activities (RDI).Appo<strong>in</strong>ted by governmental bodies,<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> Academy of F<strong>in</strong>land, <strong>the</strong>work<strong>in</strong>g group aims to present a draftstrategy to <strong>the</strong> stakeholders <strong>in</strong> Octoberand to <strong>the</strong> Research and InnovationCouncil at <strong>the</strong> end of <strong>the</strong> year.The objective of <strong>the</strong> cooperation isto make strategically important choicesand coord<strong>in</strong>ate <strong>the</strong> resources allocated to<strong>the</strong>ir implementation.The growth strategy is based on <strong>the</strong> factthat F<strong>in</strong>land has a great opportunity to bea lead<strong>in</strong>g country <strong>in</strong> health technology,medical research, personalised healthpromotion, and treatment of illnessesas well as health sector service <strong>in</strong>novations.In addition, <strong>the</strong>re has been a longtermdevelopment of <strong>the</strong> life scienceenvironment and <strong>in</strong>dustry <strong>in</strong> F<strong>in</strong>land. Thegoal is to create collaboration betweenall <strong>the</strong>se sectors.Fuel from biomassThere are also future plans for <strong>the</strong> F<strong>in</strong>nishbioeconomy. A national bioeconomystrategy for F<strong>in</strong>land has been prepareds<strong>in</strong>ce autumn 2012 by several m<strong>in</strong>istries,and <strong>the</strong> f<strong>in</strong>al report will be published <strong>in</strong>autumn 2013.Forest companies <strong>in</strong> F<strong>in</strong>land need tof<strong>in</strong>d new areas for <strong>the</strong> use of wood asraw material due to <strong>the</strong> decreas<strong>in</strong>g globaldemand for paper.UPM, for example, is <strong>in</strong>vest<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> abioref<strong>in</strong>ery produc<strong>in</strong>g biofuels from crudetall oil <strong>in</strong> Lappeenranta. The <strong>in</strong>dustrialscale <strong>in</strong>vestment is globally <strong>the</strong> first ofits k<strong>in</strong>d. Annually, <strong>the</strong> bioref<strong>in</strong>ery willproduce approximately 100,000 tonnesof advanced second generation biodieselfor transport.With her large forests, F<strong>in</strong>land is <strong>in</strong> anexcellent position consider<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> globalneed and competition for biomass. Still,<strong>the</strong> concept of bioeconomy should not berestricted to only wood as raw material.Important sources of biomass are also, forexample, agriculture and municipal waste.Big F<strong>in</strong>nish <strong>chemical</strong> <strong>in</strong>dustrycompanies are also seek<strong>in</strong>g new bus<strong>in</strong>essopportunities <strong>in</strong> bioref<strong>in</strong>eries forproduc<strong>in</strong>g biofuels. Neste Oil already hasbioref<strong>in</strong>eries <strong>in</strong> Porvoo, S<strong>in</strong>gapore, andRotterdam, <strong>the</strong> Ne<strong>the</strong>rlands. Renewablefuels recorded a comparable operat<strong>in</strong>gprofit of 33 million euros already thisyear.The Rotterdam bioref<strong>in</strong>ery has anannual production capacity of a billionlitres of renewable diesel fuel, mak<strong>in</strong>g itEurope’s largest bioref<strong>in</strong>ery. The biofuelis made from a variety of vegetable oils,by-products of vegetable oil ref<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g,such as stear<strong>in</strong>, as well as waste oils andfats.Biofuels form only a small part of<strong>the</strong> possible products, o<strong>the</strong>r importantbio-based products are for examplebioplastics, bio<strong>chemical</strong>s, and drugs.From chemistry to biotechIn F<strong>in</strong>land, <strong>the</strong>re is a long tradition of<strong>in</strong>dustrial biotechnology, and especially<strong>the</strong> knowledge and development of<strong>in</strong>dustrial enzymes is world class. TheF<strong>in</strong>nish Roal Ltd, which produces enzymesfor different <strong>in</strong>dustrial applications,such as bak<strong>in</strong>g, food, technical and feed<strong>in</strong>dustries, is one of <strong>the</strong> world’s largestenzyme companies export<strong>in</strong>g over 90 percent of its products worldwide.Accord<strong>in</strong>g to a prediction of McK<strong>in</strong>seyand Company, biotechnology will replace33 per cent of <strong>chemical</strong> processes by2025. In 2005, <strong>the</strong> share was only 6.7per cent.The ref<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g of biomass, <strong>the</strong> globalneed for which will be enormous, willalso be a comb<strong>in</strong>ation of traditional<strong>chemical</strong> processes and a grow<strong>in</strong>g useof biotechnology. Biotechnology willsimilarly be important <strong>in</strong> produc<strong>in</strong>gbiomass, for example <strong>in</strong> grow<strong>in</strong>g algaeand us<strong>in</strong>g genetic modifications <strong>in</strong> plantbreed<strong>in</strong>g.The writer is Director of F<strong>in</strong>nishBio<strong>in</strong>dustries.carmela.kantor-aaltonen@chem<strong>in</strong>d.fi40 KEMIA 5/2013
KNF_an_f i _0803. pdf 2008- 01- 03 11: 18: 02KalvopumpputekniikkaaasiantuntijoiltaKNF Neubergerillä onlaaja valikoima öljyvapaitapumppuja jajärjestelmiä kaasuille,höyryille ja nesteille.Kontam<strong>in</strong>aatiovapaatkompressorit, alipa<strong>in</strong>epumput,nes teen s iirtojaannostelupumput.OEM - ja laboratorioversiot.Asiakassovitteiset pumputovat erikoisalaamme,ota yhteyttä.…vaativi<strong>in</strong>sovelluksi<strong>in</strong>:Lääketieteen laitteetAnalyysitekniikkaEl<strong>in</strong>tarviketekniikkaProsessilaitteetLaboratoriotT utkimusw w w.knf.seF<strong>in</strong>land | Russia | Ukra<strong>in</strong>e | Belarus | Kazakhstan | UzbekistanTake a nativeguide <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>IPR jungle.Do you want to conquer new territories?We will f<strong>in</strong>d <strong>the</strong> best way to protect your <strong>in</strong>novationsanywhere <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> world. Your attorney willguide you safely through <strong>the</strong> whole process.www.papula-nev<strong>in</strong>pat.comKNF Neuberger ABTel +46 8 744 51 13<strong>in</strong>fo@knf.se www.knf.seP.O. Box 981, 00101 Hels<strong>in</strong>ki, F<strong>in</strong>land.Bus<strong>in</strong>ess from technologyNew bus<strong>in</strong>ess from side streamsIndustrial Symbiosis –web<strong>in</strong>ar for <strong>in</strong>dustry lead<strong>in</strong>g companiesSeptember 3, at 2 pm (UTC +2)Registration: www.vtt.fi/<strong>in</strong>dustrial_symbiosisRecord<strong>in</strong>g is available also after <strong>the</strong> webcast, just follow <strong>the</strong> registration l<strong>in</strong>k.Technology and market foresight • Strategic research • Product and service development • IPR and licens<strong>in</strong>g• Assessments, test<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>in</strong>spection, certification • Technology and <strong>in</strong>novation management • Technology partnership
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