Life Sciences Baltics 2021 Showcases Baltic Life Science Hub
On-line conference features leading start-ups and keynotes from Nobel Prize winner Dr Richard Henderson and CRISPR pioneer Prof. Dr Virginijus Šikšnys.
Life Sciences Baltics, the online forum organized by Enterprise Lithuania, is the only event that allows world-class experts to meet the emerging leaders from the fast-growing Baltic life science hub in one place. This year, it will take place on 20-24 September and feature an international conference with keynotes, panel discussions and company presentations, a startup pitch battle, a virtual exhibition and B2B meetings.
The conference program will focus on topics where the Baltics excel - digital health, gene editing, MedTech, early drug discovery, imaging, personalized medicine and the microbiome. Keynotes include one of the leading minds behind CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology - the internationally renowned Lithuanian researcher Prof. Dr Virginijus Šikšnys, the 2017 Nobel laureate in Chemistry Dr Richard Henderson, and president of Askbio, Katherine High.
The last time the event took place, in 2018, almost 2 000 participants from around the world gathered in Vilnius. Life Sciences Baltics has also contributed to Lithuania's transition into one of the most advanced life sciences hubs in Central Europe. With a year-on-year revenue increase of 14%, the country has the fastest-growing life sciences sector in the EU. During the last year only, the life sciences export grew by 62 per cent in total. Lithuania has an ambitious goal to increase the gross domestic product of the industry to 5% by the end of decade.
This year, the organizers expect to virtually convene more than 1,000 attendees and believe that interest in the region's life sciences sector has steadily increased in recent years.
"The Baltic countries are among Europe's top exporters of lasers, medical instruments, pharmaceutical preparations, basic chemicals and other equipment used in research, drug production and medical procedures. By hosting Life Sciences Baltics, we want to create a meeting place and draw attention to the fact that the region provides much more than production for export. It is an R&D hotspot, one of the most attractive locations for clinical trials, and home to a vibrant startup community", said Daina Kleponė, General Manager of Enterprise Lithuania.
According to the organizers, supporting the startup community is another goal of the event. During the forum, featured startups will participate in a Pitch Battle, a Masterclass, and meet 12 investors from the US, the UK, Israel, Japan and other countries.