The US chapter of IVCA (International Visual Communication Association) will organize an event to highlight the best technology & life sciences start-ups from India. The event is being organized on 13 May 2003 in California.

IVCA-US Investor showcase, the first Indian Company Investor Forum, which will showcase to Silicon Valley venture capitalists, the best India-centric technology and life science companies today. Attendees to this event will comprise top-tier US venture capitalists, angel investors, and service providers.

20 entrepreneurial companies from India will be shortlisted to showcase to a panel of VC's in Silicon Valley on Tuesday, May 13th, 2003,Sheraton Hotel, Palo Alto, California.

The companies will benefit from participation in this event in a number of ways including potential investments from US venture capital firms, validation of business plans, and exposure to potential business partners, say the organizers. All the members have to nominate their portfolio companies or other recommended entrepreneurial companies to take part and send their business plan, executive summary along with the attached application form duly filled latest by 15 March 2003. Beyond 15th, the organizers will not entertain any forms. Each selected company will be invited to be present at the Investor Forum Event in the following manner:

• 15-minute presentation followed by a five minute question and answer session

• Distribution of executive summaries and / additional information to the audience

• Exhibit presentation materials and /or products for display in assigned location

There will be an opportunity to network with venture capitalists and fellow entrepreneurs at lunch following the presentations

Please send in your forms to info@ivca.org. For more details please contact Sumeet Singh at 0120 2530106 / 98105 04995.

Seed treatment conference

The ISF Treatment and Environment Committee (STEC) is organizing a Seed Treatment Conference in Bangalore. It will be held at the Leela Palace Hotel in Bangalore, just after the annual ISF Congress, on June 12-13, 2003.

The objective of the conference is to update the participants on the recent evolution of technical, regulatory and practical aspects of seed treatments.

The ISF STEC is composed of representatives from the seed industry, the crop protection industry and the seed treatment industry. This gives a guarantee of the balanced and comprehensive approach of the issue.

For more details, contact:

Dr Manmohan Attavar
Chairman
World Seed Congress-2003 India
C/o Indo-American Hybrid Seeds (India) Pvt. Ltd.
17th Cross, 2nd 'A' Main,
Banashankri 2nd Stage,
Bangalore - 560070, India.
Tel. : +91-80-6760111
Fax : +91-80-6761479
Email : isf2003.ho@indamseeds.com

BIO 2003 Annual convention

Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) is organizing the BIO 2003 Annual Convention. The world's largest gathering of biotechnology leaders comes to Washington, DC. More than 15,000 participants and over 500 journalists packed the Toronto Convention Center for BIO 2002. This year, for the tenth anniversary convention, the participation expected is between 15,000 and 20,000 biotechnology executives, politicians, scientists, and reporters to descend on the nation's capital.

Date: June 22-25,
Venue: Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC.
For more details contact:
BIO Meetings Department
1225 Eye Street, NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 202.962.6655
Fax: 202.589.2545
Email: bio2003@bio.org
Details logon to http://www.bio.org/

Conference on Clinical Research
India stands at the threshold of global development with the potential to emerge as the new lexicon for R&D and clinical research & trials. On this context a "Conference on Clinical Research: Roap Map for India" will be held from 3-4, April, 2003 at hotel Hyatt Regency, New Delhi. It has been envisaged as an endeavor that will provide the necessary interface and capability in clinical research.

The objective is to provide a platform where Indian and International industry, regulators, investigators, IRB members, and other agencies meet, interact, and network to put India on the global map of clinical research.

The topics to be discussed in the conference are

• Evolution of clinical trials and its Impact on clinical practice

• Clinical Research and Regulatory Control

• Clinical research and skill base-gap analysis and challenges in the Indian context

• Ethics in clinical research

• GCP - QA System for the software of medicinal products

• Recommendations of working group for each session

For more details, contact:

Divya Chopra
Confederation of Indian Industry
23, Institutional Area, Lodi Road, New Delhi 110 003 (India)
Tel: +91-11-24629994-7, 24641074
Fax: +91-11-24626149 / 24633168
Email: divya.chopra@ciionline.org

For more information and registration details, contact:  Confederation of Indian Industry at www.ciionline.org

Pharma India 2003

The International exhibition and conference on pharmaceutical industry, fine chemicals and services- Pharma India 2003 will be held from 24-27, September 2003. The exhibiton will be organised by Hyderabad International Trade Exposition Center (HITEX) at Hyderabad.

Pharma India 2003 showcases the rapidly progressing scenario of the pharmaceutical industry of India. Alongside Indian companies a large number of international companies will provide the global overview of this sector with new innovations and research techniques that are already on or in the anvil.

The pharmaceutical industry in India is one of the largest and most advanced among the developing countries. The Indian pharma market has registered a growth rate of around 8.5% (2001). In terms of volume the Indian pharma industry has contributed around 8% of the total global production (2001). The Indian pharmaceutical industry is highly fragmented, but has grown rapidly due to the friendly patent regime and low cost manufacturing structure. Intense competition, high volumes and low prices characterize the Indian domestic market.

Biotech India International 2003
The International Exhibition and Conference on Biotechnology Equipment and Services organized by HITEX will be held from 24-27 September 2003 concurrently with Pharma India 2003.

nterkama India
CIDEX will be putting on the International Exhibition on Process and Manufacturing Automation , Integrated IT Solutions, Interkama India from the 24th to 27th September 2003. It will be held alongside with the Biotech India and Pharma India trade fairs on the new Hitex exhibition ground in Hyderabad.

Email: info@cidex-tradefairs.com
For more details, Contact: Japesh Thakur
Project Manager
CIDEX Trade Fairs Pvt. Ltd.
Delhi Office
1, Commercial Complex, 2nd Floor, Pocket H & J,
Sarita Vihar, New Delhi 110 044
Tel : +91 (0)11 6971056/66
Fax :+91 (0)11 6971746
Email: ThakurJ@cidex-tradefairs.com

Mumbai Office
416, Raiker Chambers,
Opp. Firex,
Govandi, Mumbai-400 088
Tel: +91 (0)22-555 8352/550 9325
Fax:+91 (0)22-555 8353

Biotechnology, science & society at a crossroad

National Agricultural Biotechnology Council (NABC 15)event, "Biotechnology, Science and Society at a Crossroad," will be held at The Westin Seattle in Seattle at Washington, from
June 1-3, 2003.

Topics to be discussed at NABC 15 include the

• Public perceptions of agricultural biotechnology

• Biotechnology and sustainable agriculture

• Biotechnology and international trade

• Impact of biotechnology on world agricultural production.

NABC 15 is organized into half-day modules. A module consists of 10 minutes of introduction by the moderator followed by 2-3 talks by the invited speakers whose allotted time is 90
minutes. Modules are: science and society at a crossroad, sustainability, environmental and production issues, consumer issues and trade and biotechnology applications for agriculture in developing countries.

For more details: Email: washi@westin.com.

Asian pharmaceutical validation & compliance

Asian Pharmaceutical Validation & Compliance summit on Strategies for ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements will be held from April 23 - 24, 2003. The venue is Grand Copthorne Waterfront, Singapore.

The major players in Indian Pharma industry-Pfizer India, Ranbaxy Laboratories, Astrazeneca pharma India- are participating in this summit.

For more details, contact:

Email: enquire@iqpc.com.sg , Website: www.iqpc.com.sg/AS-580

Drug discovery technology 2003

Drug Discovery Technology 2003 will be held from March 30 - April 3, 2003 at Stuttgart, Germany. The event presents an unprecedented opportunity for companies in all fields of drug discovery to network with senior decision-makers all under one roof. Whether you are looking to forge new collaborations, find new investment opportunities, or meet existing clients Drug Discovery Technology- 2003, in Stuttgart is the place to do business.

Contact Information: Michelle Bryant
Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH
Tel: +44 (0) 207 017 5069, Fax: +44 (0) 207 453 5422
Email: michelle.bryant@informa.com