Australia's CSIRO to exhibit major display at the world's largest biotechnology conference

CSIRO is mounting a major display of technologies this week at BIO 2004, the world's largest biotechnology conference, being held in San Francisco, USA, from 6-9 June.

CSIRO research being featured includes:

• Drug Discovery and Development - cutting edge structural biology, rational drug design, and protein engineering
• Therapeutic Delivery - better, more efficient ways to speed drugs to their targets
• Gene Silencing and related techniques - powerful new gene technologies to enhance therapies and control plant and animal breeding
• Diagnostics - new approaches to infectious disease identification
• Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering - novel materials for cartilage repair, collagen technologies, biopolymers.
• Bioprocessing and Functional Foods - production of high value chemicals for the food, pharmaceutical and other industries
• Bioinformatics - sophisticated statistical analysis of complex data sets generated in biotechnology.

"This is the sixth time we have showcased our research at BIO," said Dr Mikael Hirsch, Biotechnology Strategy Coordinator for CSIRO.

"This year we are highlighting our Commercial Opportunities in the Life Sciences," Dr Hirsch added. "It is important that our world class science leads to commercial outcomes for global benefit".

Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, The Hon Ian MacFarlane MP, will lead the Australian delegation. The CSIRO delegation of 11 includes senior executives, scientists and business managers.

"The attendance at BIO of a Federal Minister and the Premiers of Victoria, NSW and Queensland underlines the importance Australia places on our international profile in this rapidly moving business and scientific field." said Dr Hirsch.

"We know from previous attendance at this event that Australian Science is as good or better than that of the rest of the world. In addition our R&D is very cost effective compared to most other places."

Fifty two exhibitors and more than three hundred people will represent Australia under the Biotechology Australia banner, creating one of the largest industry delegations to ever leave the country. And they should receive plenty of interest. BIO 2004 is expected to attract up to 20,000 attendees.

BIO 2004 is far more than a promotional tradeshow. It is also the venue for a major technical and policy conference highlighting global trends in business development.

"It's no coincidence that the technologies CSIRO is showcasing in San Francisco are in line with current world markets," Dr Hirsch added. "This work represents some of the best and brightest research in the world, work whose development is being accelerated in Australia through CSIRO's National Flagship programmes".