ScanBalt and Baltic Development Forum Begin a New Alliance

A new strategic alliance has been forged between Baltic Development Forum, the leading, high-level, private-public networking platform in the Baltic Sea region and ScanBalt, the innovative regional, network of networks within life sciences/biotechnology in ScanBalt BioRegion. Baltic Development Forum, represented by its chairman, fmr. Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs Uffe Ellemann-Jensen and ScanBalt, represented by its chairman, Professor Bo Samuelsson, fmr. rector of Göteborg University, today formally signed the agreement in Copenhagen. The objective of the new partnership is to exploit synergies and take full advantages of the two organisations unique characteristics.

As one of the preliminary steps, ScanBalt’s Secretariat has been relocated within the premises of Baltic Development Forum.

Uffe Ellemann-Jensen says: “ScanBalt BioRegion is a very concrete and visionary example of how the Baltic Sea region and its 11 countries can become a global centre of excellence if we make the right choices. Growth, innovation and sustained prosperity for our region are key objectives for Baltic Development Forum. The co-operation between our organisations will increase the awareness from politicians, businessmen and researchers that we in this region can play a crucial role as innovators and growth drivers in an ever more globalised world”. Bo Samuelsson says: “Baltic Development Forum is a dynamic, high-level, cross-sectorial platform in Northern Europe. ScanBalt as a well established network of networks wants to play its role in shaping this dynamic metaregion into one of the most innovative in the world. Our joint partnership can help us do exactly that. Our organisations, which are both non-profit associations, remain independent, but as strategic partners we can strengthen global focus on the potential of the region and promote competitiveness.”

The Partnership will involve a number of projects including the Baltic Sea Initiative 2010 launched by Baltic Development Forum last year and presentations at the Baltic Development Forum Summits, where key decision makers from business, governments and academia meet to network and set the agenda for the region. This year, the summit takes place in Stockholm, 16 – 18 October.

Likewise the Baltic Sea Initiative 2010 will be presented at the annual ScanBalt Forum, this year taking place 2-4 November in Oslo and organised by MedCoast Scandinavia. Another key issue is ScanBalt Campus, a cross-sectorial network of education, research and development between universities, companies, hospitals/university hospitals and other actors.

Visit the Baltic Development Home page here.

Visit the ScanBalt Home page here.

News Source: Baltic Development Forum/ScanBalt

For more information on Baltic Development Forum, please contact Director Ole Frijs-Madsen + 45 33 70 71 41

For more information about ScanBalt, please contact General Secretary Peter Frank + 45 33 70 71 76