Park Annual is one of the largest life science events in the Gothenburg calendar. The seventh edition of the event took place at Sahlgrenska Science Park on September 8.
- To take part in Park Annual is exciting and gives an energy kick. Sahlgrenska Science Park is an icon for life science and the activities here are very important for the region's growth, says Anneli Hulthén (Social Democrats), chairman of the municipality board in Gothenburg and chairman of SBIC, Sahlgrenska Science Park's owner organisation.
The event is a chance for the Science Park's companies to talk about their products and research to a broad audience.
- Park Annual is a forum where we, around 360 people, can meet in an open climate and discuss the forms for strengthening the development of new, important research projects and companies, says Gunilla Bökmark, CEO of Sahlgrenska Science Park in a statement.
Tridentify was one of the companies that presented their research during the event. The incubation company at Sahlgrenska Science Park works with IT surveillance of medical products in the healthcare sector. The company has developed fast and is now entering the production phase.
- The aim is to have the first 1,500 products ready for the market by November, said Christian Strandberg, CEO at Tridentify.
In 2009, Jönköping's municipality identified a need for quality assurance of blood bags. Tridentify's QTA system assures the quality and accessibility of the blood bag and make it possible to geographically trace it. 500,000 blood bags are used within the Swedish healthcare sector every year and in Europe the demand is up to 33 million blood bags a year. It's an enormous market. Tridentify has already signed a distribution agreement with Abbot, which is estimated to have 50-60 percent of the world market for blood donator screening.
The sustainability and democracy aspects of life science research were lifted forward at this year's event.
- Sustainable research is an important aspect. The company's activities should be financially profitable, the manufacturing should be as environmentally friendly as possible and also preferably have a social dimension. Social responsibility is about finding a business model that makes it possible for developing countries to take part of innovations, says the moderator Lena Holmberg.
An African delegation took part in the discussions during this year's event. The delegates have an exchange with the Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy. They seemed interested in further contacts, especially with the company Simplexia that develops a vaccine against genital herpes, which also may reduce the risks of HIV.
