LISAvienna brings international investors to Vienna

At the initiative of the Life Science cluster organisation LISAvienna, a joint venture of the Vienna Business Agency and Austria Wirtschaftsservice GmbH (Austria's national promotional bank), European investors in biotechnology will convene in Vienna next year. "BioEquity Europe" is the most important investor conference in Europe and will take place in Vienna for the first time in May 2015. It provides a forum for international venture capital to identify promising companies with the potential to be sound investments.

Life Sciences are a strength of the Viennese economy
Gerhard Hirczi, Managing Director of the Vienna Business Agency, emphasises the significance of this investors' conference in Vienna: "Life sciences are one of the greatest success stories of the Viennese economy. The city of Vienna has been investing in infrastructure and targeted funding initiatives for many years. The industry doesn't just provide attractive jobs, but also generates an annual income in excess of nine billion Euros. BioEquity once again demonstrates that Vienna has become an international player."

Edeltraud Stiftinger, Managing Director of Austria Wirtschaftsservice GmbH (aws) describes it an international success for the industry: "BioEquity 2015 in Vienna will open the doors for private investment and licensing deals in the life sciences industry. In its role as host country, Austria will have the unique opportunity to showcase an especially large number of exciting life sciences companies. This will enhance the opportunities for our companies to develop successfully on the global market." It is only those companies that are selected by an independent panel that will be permitted to present themselves before the international investors. Pharmaceutical companies acting in a business development role will also use the event to identify projects for licensing.
Johannes Sarx, Joint Managing Director of LISAvienna alongside Peter Halwachs said at yesterday's handover: "We are particularly delighted that we have been successful in attracting this prestigious event to Vienna. Innovative companies such as Biomay and Hookipa Biotech were invited to this year's investors' convention, which has just taken place in Amsterdam. In 2015 we are planning to offer more than ten Austrian companies the opportunity to showcase their activities." 

BioEquity as a huge opportunity for Austria's biotech companies
Rainer Henning, Managing Director of Vienna's Biomay AG: "We research and develop innovative allergy therapies. Our successes with recombinant allergy vaccines have resulted in an invitation to present our company at BioEquity. Investor interest was significant and we will be using the coming weeks to hold detailed discussions." Katherine Cohen, Chief Executive Officer at the vaccine specialist company Hookipa Biotech AG: “Bioequity is one of the most important investment forums where international VC investors meet with biotech companies. Hosting such an event in Vienna underscores the importance of life science industry in Austria.  I hope it will create many opportunities for the Austrian biotech companies and the investors."  BioEquity Europe is being organised by the EBD Group, BioCentury and BIO. For more information about this event, please visit http://www.biocentury.com/conferences/bioequityeurope .

Funding, private investors and licensing partners as the key to success
Through funding initiatives like Pre Seed and Seedfinancing, the public purse in Austria has made an important contribution to the establishment of high tech companies. There is also funding available for growth phases, for example the aws "Founders' Fund". The aws VC initiative strengthens the venture capital scene, especially for the life sciences. The city of Vienna is also providing targeted support for innovations in the life science industry through offers from the Vienna Business Agency. Innovations in this industry are also linked with a very high financial risk factor for the companies. This is the reason why they need private venture capital and licensing deals from partners inclined to accept risk – in addition to the sponsorship opportunities provided by the city and state. This collaboration with financially strong international investors and industry partners keen to progress projects by young companies and launch them onto the market provides an atmosphere in which success is able to flourish. This is how dedicated Austrian biotech companies have managed to attract in the region of €100 million in private investment in 2012. In addition to this there are a number of licensing deals which have attracted an undisclosed level of investment.  


About LISAvienna
LISAvienna - Life Science Austria Vienna is involved in the successful development of forward-looking biotechnology/pharmaceutical industries and medical technology in Vienna. The consortium is supported by Austria Wirtschaftsservice Gesellschaft mbH (aws) and the Vienna Business Agency. LISAvienna provides all life science agencies (researchers, enterprises and capital investors from Austria or abroad) with important services and contacts under one roof. As a consortium of the Republic of Austria and the City of Vienna, LISAvienna is helping to contribute towards the exploitation of the economic potential of life sciences and towards concrete products, improved processes and new services. The focus of their activity is on the provision of tailored consultation services and the fostering of innovative companies. The Viennese Life Science cluster organisation is involved in the international positioning of Vienna as an appropriate research and business location, offers networking events and, as a central knowledge hub, develops analyses and background papers on biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and medical technology in Vienna. Follow us on Twitter at @lifesciencevie and visit www.LISAvienna.at for more information and news.


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