The future of biotechnology in Europe.

At the end of September '96, the Club de Bruxelles held a conference ("The Future of Biotechnologies in Europe") to discuss the present development and the future of biotechnology in Europe. The meeting was intended to serve as a forum for the preparation of the 5th EU framework ("Inventing Tomorrow"), which is currently being set up under the leadership of Edith Cresson. The aim of the conference was to underline the necessity of concentrating and reorganizing research in the field of biotechnology, thus focusing future research activities in order to secure Europe's competitiveness in the world market. The conference was attended by 350 participants from all over Europe, representing academia, industry, environmental organizations and consumer groups. Lectures were held by representatives from academic and industrial research and a variety of work groups of the European Parliament. The speakers and participants were mainly chosen to promote the dialogue between the different groups. The objectives were the creation of a common basis for further debate in the field of biotechnology and the preparation of future consent. Once again, this conference emphasized the need to inform the public as a prerequisite for the acceptance of biotechnology and its various aspects.