The Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Region and its Regional Economic Agency on a mission to the United States to promote the development of biotherapies!
Following the adoption of its roadmap on biotherapies and biomanufacturing, the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Region is currently present in Wisconsin and Illinois. An official delegation from Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, led by Nicolas SORET, Vice-President in charge of finance, economic development, social and solidarity economy, and employment, Martine ABRAHAMSE-PLEUX, General Director of the Regional Economic Agency, and Nicolas PARIS, President of the BioForward cluster and CEO of the company Gilson based in the region, is visiting the United States from October 27 to November 1. This mission aims to promote the biotherapy sector of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté internationally and strengthen international collaborations in this field.
Towards a Strategic Partnership with Wisconsin
With his experience with BioForward, a biotech cluster in Wisconsin, Nicolas PARIS was approached by Marie-Guite DUFAY, President of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Region, to explore and help define a strategy structuring the biotherapy sector in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. This roadmap, unanimously adopted by regional elected officials on October 17, aims to bring together the various ecosystems of the region around health issues, inspired by the successful collaboration between Madison and Milwaukee in Wisconsin.
The mission’s program includes meetings with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) to discuss possible synergies, as well as the signing of a partnership agreement between BioForward and the Regional Economic Agency of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.
Promoting the Region to American Companies
In parallel, the delegation will visit American companies, including Gilson in Madison, also based in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, as well as prospective companies interested in establishing themselves in the region. Meetings are also scheduled with Business France and economic authorities of Greater Chicago and Illinois, to enhance the international reputation of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.
Strengthening International Relations
This mission highlights the importance of internationalizing ecosystems to ensure national and international visibility in increasingly competitive sectors. In addition to biotherapies, discussions will also focus on other key sectors, such as energy, agribusiness, and mobility.
Bourgogne-Franche-Comté: Undeniable Assets for Developing the Sector
Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, rich in its ecosystem of research institutes, laboratories, hospitals, and regional companies, has numerous assets to become a key player in this promising field. First, our expertise is already globally recognized in two innovative therapy fields: cell, tissue, and gene therapies, and theranostics. Supporting these two areas of specialization, the region can rely on exceptional suppliers of disruptive technologies, such as RD Biotech in Besançon, the only French supplier of plasmid DNA, and Chematech in Dijon, from the ICMUB laboratory, which produces chelating agents for targeted internal radiotherapy. Additionally, our region, characterized by a predominantly industrial workforce, a land of know-how with Pasteur or the birthplace of precision mechanics with watchmaking, has the expertise to industrialize the infinitesimally small, an essential skill in the field of biotherapies.