> EFB relocates to Barcelona and obtains legal status

EFB relocates to Barcelona and obtains legal status

Barcelona, May 31, 2005 - The European Federation of Biotechnology was established as a legal entity under Belgian law in May 2005. This is the fulfilment of a process initiated in Madrid in 2001 to undertake the first major reorganisation of EFB since its foundation in 1978.

Another significant recent achievement was the establishment of a permanent and well-funded EFB Central Office (ECO). Following decisions of the Executive Board (ExBo) in the summer of 2004, EFB advertised for tenders to host ECO.  A committee of ExBo members evaluated the four bids that were received and recommended the proposal from Barcelona BioRegion and the Spanish Society for Biotechnology (SEBiot) to locate ECO on the premises of the Catalan Research Foundation in Barcelona. This recommendation was unanimously accepted at the ExBo meeting in January 2005, during which a preliminary agreement between EFB, SEBIOT and the Catalan Ministry of Research was signed.

The new ECO was opened with generous financial support from Barcelona BioRegion in excellent modern offices with first class infrastructure facilities provided by the Catalan Research Foundation on March 1, 2005. As from the same date, Christian Suojanen, who has extensive experience and an excellent professional background, was appointed to the challenging job of EFB General Secretary. These latest and significant developments are the culmination of many years of exceptional contribution to EFB by Professor Borge Diderichsen, Vice-President of Novo Nordisk Denmark.  Since becoming President of EFB in 2001 he oversaw the very substantial changes in the structure and organisation of EFB.