7 December 2012

Press release – In September 2013, Sherbrooke will hold the International Life Sciences Summit, which will bring together key players of the pharmaceutical and medical technologies sectors from all over the world.

Organized by Sherbrooke Innopole, this two-day event will allow big pharma, medical device and biotechnology companies, as well as SMEs, researchers, and investors to assess the current situation in the Life Sciences Sector, and evaluate future perspectives for this constantly developing industry, which has recently gone through a period of turmoil.

In today’s context, pharmaceutical companies tend to outsource research while collaboration between the pharmaceutical and medical technologies sectors is becoming more common.  This event will finally offer participants a chance to discuss open innovation and hear key players share their needs for collaboration with SMEs through conferences and panels. Dr. Robert Langer, distinguished MIT Professor, will be keynote speaker for the Summit.

“With our Life Sciences Key Sector, a university pole including a Faculty of Medicine, cutting edge infrastructures, two scientific parks recognized by the International Association of Science Parks (IASP), and globally recognized innovative businesses, Sherbrooke has become a hotspot for the convergence of Life Sciences. Sherbrooke International Life Sciences Summit is directly in line with this vision”, explains Pierre Bélanger, Director General of Sherbrooke Innopole.

Over 300 participants are expected at the Summit, which will take place in Sherbrooke, September 26^th and 27^th, 2013. B2B matchmaking periods are scheduled to allow participants a chance for networking, and Sherbrooke’s businesses and researchers will get an opportunity to present their expertise and services.’’

“We have been on a promotional tour of Europe last fall and have met with approval in all countries visited, gladly says Josée Blanchard, Director of the Life Sciences Key Sector at Sherbrooke Innopole. A Montpellier delegation, which visited Sherbrooke in October, also plans to participate actively. It is very encouraging to feel everyone rallying around an event that will take place here and confirm the vitality of Life Sciences in Sherbrooke”, she concludes.

The Summit relies on financial support from the Province of Québec’sMinistère des Finances et de l’économie, Canada Economic Development, and the City of Sherbrooke, as well as partners Rx&D and MEDEC.

Website and social media

All information pertaining to the International Life Sciences Summit is available atwww.sils-sherbrooke.com, as well as on Twitter (@SILS_Sherbrooke), Facebook(www.facebook.com/silsSherbrookeInternationalLifeSciencesSummit) and LinkedIn (« SILS – Sherbrooke International Life Sciences Summit » group).

About Sherbrooke Innopole

Sherbrooke Innopole’s mission is to ensure innovative, harmonious, and dynamic economic growth and development in the Sherbrooke Region by promoting the development of companies created from Sherbrooke ingenuity and research, attracting new businesses, and supporting existing manufacturing firms in their expansion, innovation, and internationalization initiatives.www.sherbrooke-innopole.com

Source: Sherbrooke Innopole