Under the auspices of the OECD Working Party on Biotechnology and the Austrian Federal Ministry for Economics, Family and Youth, an workshop entitled “Outlook for Industrial Biotechnology” was held in Vienna, Austria the 13-15 of January 2010.

 

Click here for : Programme, Presentations and Background papers
 
Why Industrial Biotechnology

 

There is broad consensus that Industrial Biotechnology has significant potential in such areas as: sustainable chemistry, innovative pharmaceuticals, textile, food and feed industries, renewable energy, etc. In addition, most major OECD economies have recently implemented significant economic stimulus packages, many of which contain specific elements focused on innovation-led “green growth”. The recent financial crisis has provided even more incentive to boost national green growth initiatives and policies and there is growing consensus that industrial biotechnology might underpin green growth and innovation worldwide.

To fully realise this potential, there is a clear need to analyse the current and emerging Industrial Biotechnology-related trends and policies through the whole innovation cycle – from the early R&D stages up to commercialisation – and evaluate their impact.

 

The Workshop

 

About 50 experts came together in Vienna to discuss the current and emerging trends and policies related to Industrial Biotechnology. Coming from different horizons – such as industry, academia and policy - workshop participants actively raised and examined the main issues which surround the development of industrial biotechnology for green growth and innovation worldwide. Issues ranging from technological development to policy challenges, investment or business models were addressed.

 

The main objective of the workshop was to develop a short data intensive report, the OECD Outlook on Industrial Biotechnology. This OECD Outlook is intended to provide data and information on a number of Industrial Biotechnology-related trends and issues. It is expected that the themes addressed during the workshop will also provide the basis for creation of datasets and indicators to improve evidence-based policy making.

For more information please contact:  alexandre.bartsev@oecd.org; or james.philp@oecd.org