Biotechnology policies

Recognising that biotechnology was (and is) driven by fundamental research and discovery, the Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry (STI) has covered this sector since 1980 and continues to follow advances in basic research on biotechnology and its applications.

What's new

Synthetic Biology: Realising opportunities and overcoming challenges

from 12-Mar-2012 to 13-Feb-2012

The OECD, in conjunction with Human Genome Organisation (HUGO) and the Australian Government, will be hosting two separate meetings related to Synthetic Biology in Sydney, Australia on 12 and 13 March 2012. Synthetic biology is a modular approach to building biological products that allows new products to be built, and tested better, faster and cheaper than existing approaches and on a larger scale. There are today a number of examples of products or processes derived from synthetic biology both in the laboratory and in production.

The OECD Global Forum on Biotechnology : Marine Biotechnology - Enabling Solutions for Ocean Productivity and Sustainability

from 30-May-2012 to 31-May-2012

The OECD in partnership with Genome Canada, Genome British Columbia, Genome Atlantic, Health Canada, The Research Council of Norway, the Norwegian Ministry of Trade & Industry, and the Korean Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs) will host a major conference on Marine Biotechnology on 30-31 May 2012 at the Wosk Centre for Dialogue, Vancouver, Canada.

This conference will review opportunities for marine biotechnology and look at how to realise these opportunities.     

Future Prospects for Industrial Biotechnology

03-Oct-2011

This publication examines the international drivers, the enabling technologies fast-tracking industrial biotechnology, industry trends, some of the products that are appearing on the market, industry structure and finance, and policy measures and trends. It examines separately biofuels, biobased chemicals and bioplastics.

Report on the Policy Issues for the Development and Use of Biomarkers in Health

10-Nov-2011

This report describes the scientific, industrial, regulatory, and health care management system context in which biomarkers are being developed. It identifies some of the barriers which may impede biomarker research, discovery, development, commercialisation and, ultimately, uptake in clinics. It also focuses on the use of biomarkers in the health care system, as diagnostics and in medical tests, and explores the use of biomarkers for the development of improved medicines. It does not address the role of biomarkers upstream, as tools for basic research.

Report on Industrial Biotechnology and Climate Change: Opportunities and Challenges

10-Nov-2011

This report explores the potential role of industrial biotechnology in the biobased economy. Along the way it examines emerging trends, the impact of innovation, the convergence of technologies, and goes on to identify the challenges involved. It concludes with a need for an integrated and strategic approach to allow industrial biotechnology to fulfil its potential as a force for good, not a panacea, in the struggle with climate change.

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