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February 3, 2022 BioTechNZ

The biggest innovations of the 21st century are at the intersection of biology and technology

In this issue

  • Colin Harvey RIP
  • BioTechNZ news and highlights
  • Government submissions
  • What’s happening around the country and across the ditch?

Rest in Peace Colin Harvey

It is with great sadness that we recognise the passing of Colin Harvey (ONZM). Colin was an inspirational leader in our community and established the animal health business Ancare, which he later sold to Merial. He kept on innovating and invested in and coached many businesses such as Orbis, Mastaplex and CertusBio.

Requiem Mass will be celebrated at St John the Baptist Catholic Church 87 Hastings Road, Mairangi Bay, Auckland on Friday 4 February at 11am. To register interest or receive the link to view the service please email susan. nelson@xtra.co.nz Vaccine pass required.

BioTechNZ news and highlights

New Zealand is facing further uncertainty and challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with community transmission of Omicron and a move to the red ‘traffic light’ setting for the entire country. What we do know, however, is that the pandemic has seen an acceleration of both the development and adoption of biotech. BioTechNZ, itself, has seen changes too, with events in the near future going online. For our initiatives:

  • MedCan Summit 2022 will be held as a virtual event. See ‘News & Events’ below.
  • BioTechNZ was successful in securing seed funding from Grow Wellington for a Life Sciences Summit and Awards Dinner, to be held in October/November (exact date to be confirmed).
  • Networking events will be held virtually for the next 6 months due to the uncertainty of omicron.

BioTechNZ Government submissions

What’s happening around the country and across the ditch?

MedCan 2022

With New Zealand in the red level of the Covid Protection Framework, MedCan Summit 2022 will now be run virtually on 10 and 11 February. As MedCan 2022 will be virtual, you will be able to join us from the comfort of your home or office. Your virtual ticket enables you to access the Summit content on-demand for 30 days after the conference, meaning you can easily catch up if you miss a session or want to rewatch something. Discounts available for members. See ‘News & Events’ below.
Register now

Cultured Meat and Seafood Symposium

At this point, the event is scheduled to go ahead on 23 February with appropriate COVID-19 safety measures in place, including vaccine requirements, limited capacity (80 people), ensuring 1m distancing and mask requirements. However, the safety of guests is paramount; case numbers will be monitored over the coming days and further updates on the event status will be provided.
Register here

INTERESTING FACT: Research conducted by the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) reveals that a third of UK consumers would try cultured meat, and a quarter would try edible insects. It also revealed that six in 10 people are willing to try plant-based products.

Bioenergy Webinar

The Potential for Gasification and Pyrolysis of Biomass webinar runs on 8 February 2022 at 2pm (NZDT). Biomass gasification and pyrolysis are processes by which biomass can be converted into value added products, therefore utilising forest-related residues and mitigating polluting bio-based waste disposal strategies whilst simultaneously generating useful products such as biofuels, biochar, syngas, electricity, heat, and biochemicals. This webinar will provide an update on world-wide applications of these two technologies, mitigation of challenges in the applications and the transferability of this concept into the New Zealand and Australian context. Register here

Natural Health Products Summit 2022

The Summit 2022 has been booked in Napier, the art deco capital of New Zealand. The Plenary Sessions (26 & 27 May 2022) will be held at the Napier Conference Centre.

2022 BIO International Convention

June 13-16, 2022, in San Diego, California. This year BIO is pleased to extend an early discount on 2022 BIO International Convention registrations to BioTechNZ members. Please contact me for discount details.

BioTechNZ Networking Events 

Due to the uncertainty of COVID-19 for the first half of this year we will be running content online. I am keen to hear any ideas on how the sector would like to stay connected over the next couple of months. Email us with your ideas

AN ASK FROM THE BIOTECH COMMUNITY

Life Sciences Summit & Awards | October/November 2022, Wellington

BioTechNZ was successful in receiving seed funding to hold a biotech conference in Wellington.  BioTechNZ will be setting up a Programme Committee, looking for topical session ideas that explore current trends, critical and emerging topics, breakthroughs, and stories that are thought-provoking and encourage discussion on topics that matter to the life sciences sector locally and abroad. We are also looking for partners to ensure the success of this summit.  Register your ideas or potential interest in supporting the Life Sciences Summit & Awards here. 

Success stories

Announcing the winner of the CytivaANZ BioChallenge 2021 

Cytiva, a global life sciences leader, announces the winner of its first BioChallenge for the Australia and New Zealand region (ANZ). The competition attracted 32 proposals from academic institutions and start-up companies across the region’s biotechnology industry. They were  valuated by a panel of independent judges. VivaZome Therapeutics, an emerging exosome-derived therapies developer, was ultimately awarded the top prize valued at approximately AUD $200,000.

BioTechNZ members please send your news to us so we can share your success stories with the biotech community.


Zahra Champion
Executive Director

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BioTechNZ Our aim is to raise awareness and increase the understanding to enable our nation to embrace the best opportunities biotech offers to us daily, helping us live better, healthier and more productive lives.