BioAsia 2024 names Flanders Investment & Trade as the International Regional Partner to boost Indo-Belgian Lifesciences trade

Asia’s largest life-sciences and Health Tech forum and the annual flagship event of the Government of Telangana, has announced its International Region Partner for the 21st edition of the marquee healthcare and life sciences event, organized by the Government of Telangana. A vibrant and dynamic region of Belgium, Flanders’ Lifescienes & Health sector is one of the focus sectors for the region. The region stands 1st within European Union for clinical trial procedure speed and biotech market capitalisation, 2nd pharma and biotech patent applications per capita and for pharma and biotech patent applications per capita.

Flanders had participated last year in BioAsia 2023 to explore multiple opportunities in the Lifesciences sector aimed at Vaccines and mRNA technological platforms, Immunotherapy, Life Sciences university partnership and Cluster-to-Cluster collaborations (VIB and Genome Valley in particular). At BioAsia 2024, Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT) will bring a key delegation of senior officials from Flanders and participate in multiple B2B, G2B, and other meetings. Under the partnership, so far multiple actions have been taken to promote trade tie-ups between both regions. A task force with members including industry, academia, and Government from both sides was formed to discuss and implement the partnership. Subsequently, a high-level delegation from Telangana was invited in May 2023 to witness and interact with vibrant and dynamic life sciences community of Flanders that is dedicated to advancing research, innovation, and entrepreneurship. As part of this, the delegation from Telangana visited Belgium to attend Road trip Flanders’ Biotech and Life Sciences ecosystem, State of the Union & Knowledge for Growth 2023. During the visit, the second taskforce meeting was organised to discuss and deliberate on short term and long-term action plan and lay the groundwork for third taskforce meeting scheduled during BioAsia 2024.

While announcing Flanders Investment & Trade as the International Regional Partner, Mr. D Sridhar Babu, Hon’ble Minister for Industries and IT, Government of Telangana said, “While Telangana has emerged as a thriving hub for the life sciences industry, boasting a robust ecosystem that spans pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and medical research, Flanders, with its rich history in scientific research and technological innovation, complements our strengths and offers a wealth of expertise. I am excited to see Flanders’ deep interest in strengthening ties with BioAsia and Telangana. With the exchange of knowledge and facilitating collaborative research initiatives, joint projects, and knowledge-sharing platforms, we aim to create an environment that nurtures innovation and accelerates the development of breakthrough technologies. This exchange will not only contribute to the growth of our respective life sciences sectors but also position Telangana and Flanders as global leaders in scientific research and innovation.”

Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary of the Industries & Commerce and Information Technology, Govt of Telangana said, “This partnership will open avenues for collaborative investments, joint ventures, and the establishment of research and development centers. By pooling our resources and expertise, we can amplify our impact and contribute to global advancements in healthcare, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals. I am confident that BioAsia 2024 will not only create new economic opportunities for businesses in both regions but also foster a culture of collaboration and knowledge exchange that will benefit the global scientific community.”

FIT is the Flemish public agency under the Flanders Government and advises supports and stimulates Flemish companies in their exports of products & services. It also encourages & supports overseas companies to set up business in Europe based out of Flanders, Belgium. In India, FIT has been active for the last 25 years and has played a key role in promoting economic cooperation between Flanders and India over the past two decades. With Belgium being the nerve center of Europe, Flanders in Belgium has a combination of a strongly focused research and innovation ecosystem, a highly educated and productive workforce with fluency in languages, and a highly developed transport and communication infrastructure to ensure sustainable, profitable growth.

“This long-term collaboration has immense potential for both Telangana and Flanders, and I would like to express our gratitude for the pivotal role played by BioAsia in developing a collaborative ecosystem that has seen actions for our mutual growth. Over the past twelve months, we have witnessed the tangible exchanges of our partnership, with both Flanders and Telangana actively contributing to the flourishing life sciences industry. The collaboration has not only strengthened economic ties but has also fostered a culture of innovation and knowledge exchange. We are proud to witness the progressive impact of our partnership with Telangana. BioAsia’s efforts in organizing forums, conferences, and networking events have provided a platform for businesses, researchers, and policymakers from both regions to come together, share insights, and explore collaborative opportunities.” said Mr. Jayant Nadiger – Trade & Investment Commissioner of Flanders, Belgium for South India

“BioAsia 2024 will attract the participation of globally eminent leaders from over 50 countries. Having Flanders, Belgium as an International Regional Partner will help accelerate connecting businesses and budding enterprises through platforms like the BioAsia forum. This partnership is a testimony of two similar regions with a similar ecosystem coming together, increasing connectivity, and paving a path for tomorrow that’s driven by robust research, innovation, and excellence,” said Mr. Shakthi Nagappan, Director (Life Sciences and Pharma), Govt of Telangana and CEO – BioAsia.

With the theme of – “Data & AI: Redefining Possibilities, to deliberate the possibility of reshaping the future of healthtech delivery paradigm in the country.”, BioAsia 2024 is all set to be held between 26th to 28th February 2024 in Hyderabad. Over the three days, prominent industry leaders, distinguished scientists, researchers, and entrepreneurs will come together to discuss humanizing healthcare and will hold constructive discussions on how cross-sectional ecosystems can be integrated, how disruptive technologies can be best utilized, and how we can drive quality healthcare with accessibility and affordability at the forefront in the near future.