Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park (DuBiotech), a major life sciences hub in the Middle East and member of the TECOM Investments, recently organized a grand dinner for China-based biotechnology companies. It was attended by His Excellency Gao Youzhen, Consul General of China in the UAE, Mr. Marwan Abdulaziz, Director of Business Development at DuBiotech, senior TECOM representatives among various other existing and potential business partners of DuBiotech. The dinner came as a positive response DuBiotech’s roadshow in China during October last year, comprising of visits to 30 companies in Shanghai and Beijing.

DuBiotech’s numerous value-added offerings were presented to business partners. It provides outstanding services such as regulatory affairs management, partner development, registration & licensing, leasing and government services, etc. to promote the growth of the local and international companies functioning in the Park. In addition, the free zone is strategically located with world-class facilities offered particularly to the Life Sciences industry, varying from offices, laboratories, warehouses to land plots, thereby, forming a vibrant Life Sciences community.

DuBiotech has recorded more than 33 per cent growth in 2011 in addition to setting up of 21 biotechnology companies in the area. Some of them include National Starch and Chemical Middle East, Wockhardt and Chr Hansen Middle East and Africa FZ-LLC.

Ever since the park has been launched in 2005, it has played a significant role in Dubai’s vision of forming a knowledge-based economy. Today, it’s the world’s first free-zone dedicated to the Life Sciences industry, facilitating the smooth operations of 90 biotechnology companies in wide-ranging sectors, including Pfizer, Amgen, Merck Serono, Bristol-Myers Squibb, MAQUET, Genzyme, Firmenich and IFF.

DuBiotech lends it continuous support to small and medium (SME) Life Sciences companies, especially in wake of the surging demand from these companies. A second business centre has been launched at the Nucleotide Laboratory Complex in July 2011. This business centre contains 20 offices and workstations which equipped with the latest technology and facilities to build an enabling environment.

In the near future, the park plans to concentrate on pharmaceutical, medical devices & equipment, agricultural and environmental biotech firms in 2012. It is also planning to work together with educational institutions and universities to accelerate the development of the biotechnology industry and develop the overall capacity of potential talent in the country.