STOCKHOLM, May 9 /PRNewswire/ --
- “Stockholm-Uppsala has long been a leading European life science region, and it’s high time the world took notice,” says Bengt Agerup, CEO of Q-Med and chairman of the Stockholm-Uppsala Bioregion Association, created today at a meeting in Uppsala. The founders are the Biotechvalley.nu (in Strangnas), Stockholm Business Region and Uppsala BIO within the foundation STUNS.
The Stockholm-Uppsala region is home to around 60 percent of Sweden’s life science industry, leading research institutions and renowned teaching hospitals and public authorities. The region also tops the list of innovative regions in Europe(1), and has a climate for innovation which has consistently produced new products and high-growth companies. The region has the critical mass and the growth levels needed to compete with the leading regions of the world.
“The long-term strengthening of the region’s international profile requires the constant development and marketing of the Stockholm-Uppsala region. The new Stockholm-Uppsala Bioregion Association will enable us to aggressively position the region as one of the world’s leading life science regions,” says Olle Zetterberg, CEO of Stockholm Business Region.
“The new Stockholm-Uppsala Bioregion Association will bring about improved opportunities for life science companies to develop. Through giving the world a clearer profile of the region we will increase the possibilities for companies to attract both the right people and the right capital,” adds Bengt Agerup.
“Stockholm-Uppsala offers unique possibilities for cross-disciplinary cooperation, which can contribute to meeting the challenges faced by the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors. Many leading life science companies, such as GE Healthcare, AstraZeneca and Sumitomo, are already working together with universities here, and we hope that the new Stockholm-Uppsala Bioregion platform will enable the rest of the world to discover these opportunities,” says Professor Anders Hallberg, Vice Chancellor, Uppsala University.
Facts About the Stockholm-Uppsala Bioregion Association
- The association was founded on May 8th 2007 by Biotechvalley.nu Foundation (Strangnas), Stockholm Business Region and Uppsala BIO (STUNS).
- The association’s purpose is to promote the development of life science in the Stockholm-Uppsala region through marketing it as one of the world’s leading life science regions, with world-leading academic research and successful enterprise.
- The association has its headquarters in Uppsala.
- The chairman of the association is Bengt Agerup, founder and CEO of Q-Med AB, elected to serve until the next general meeting.
- The other member’s of the board, elected to serve until the next general meeting, are:
- Harriet Wallberg-Henriksson, President of Karolinska Institutet - Anders Hallberg, Vice Chancellor of Uppsala University - Curt Nilsson, CEO of STUNS - Per From, Chairman of Biotechvalley.nu
- Alternate board members, election to serve until the next general meeting, are:
- Kristina Tidestav, Departmental Manager, Stockholm Business Region
- Otto Skolling, Director Projects and Corporate Partnering, Business Development, Novozymes
- Sverker Ljunghall, VP Science Relations, AstraZeneca R&D
(1) European Commission, European Regional Innovation Scoreboard, 2006
Stockholm-Uppsala Bioregion
CONTACT: For further information, please contact: Bengt Agerup, Chairman,Stockholm-Uppsala Bioregion +46-709-749-025; Madeleine Neil, Informationofficer, Stockholm-Uppsala Bioregion: +46-768-29-77-77; Kristina Tidestav,Stockholm Business Region: +46-704-72-80-22
