In an innovative approach to partnering, Baxter’s European R & D center in Belgium and BioWin, have come together to host a first-of-its-kind networking event aimed at creating new partnerships opportunities focusing on developing innovation.

The networking event gathered 23 organizations, represented by 30 people comprising of SMEs and Research Centers in Brussels and Wallonia. A pre-selected group of the technologies to be presented as well as its participants were accurately divided among the 4 different workshops prepared and given by Baxter and BioWin. The event was designed to create partnerships between Baxter and local innovative talents specializing in biotechnology and medical technology.

Already, this kind of open innovation and partnering between Baxter and BioWin members has proven successful with the development and approval of Ovart. The first BioWin collaborative project to date so far, Ovart is a complex, innovative project designed to develop an artificial ovary. Approved in 2011, Baxter’s European R & D sector will act as coordinator of BioWin’s project that will involve the expertise of five highly skilled partners from the region.

With already 25 R & D projects developed by BioWin, Baxter saw a window of opportunity that would help create new jobs and partnerships with leaders in areas relevant to Baxter’s own R & D sector. These 25 R & D projects developed by BioWin are expected to create over 1.250 jobs by 2015 proving the efforts of BioWin and these kinds of partnerships are leading to economic growth and development in the region.

Clearly, this event has been a true stepping stone aimed not only at fostering and strengthening the open innovation approach but also at stimulating big pharma groups worldwide to collaborate with local SMEs.

Sources:

Direct link: http://www.baxter.be/fr/actualites/communiques/archive.html

Contacts:

Contact for Baxter:

Vincent Vanwijnsberghe – Communications, Government Affairs & Public Policy Manager Belux