ESRC Genomics Network Conference, 'Genomics and Society: Reinventing
Life?'
Savoy Place, London
Monday 27th and Tuesday 28th October 2008

**Register online by Friday 17th October to be included in the
participant
list: www.genomicsandsociety.org

**The conference brochure is now available online:
www.genomicsandsociety.org

The ESRC Genomics Network (EGN) is pleased to host an international,
interdisciplinary conference focusing on genomics and society.
Showcasing research evidence from across the EGN, this conference will
examine the issues from a broad range of perspectives. It will reflect
on many applications of genomics research - from pharmaceuticals to fuel
- and consider the implications of the life sciences for policy and
practice - from innovation and global competitiveness to what this might
mean for our personal identity and the ethics of genomics research.

Can society keep pace with current and future developments in the new
life sciences? Will research in this area reinvent the world in which we
live?
This conference will seek to provide some of the answers and encourage
knowledge exchange between policy makers, academic researchers,
industry, media and NGO representatives and citizens' groups.

KEYNOTES:
Confirmed keynote speakers are Professor Paul Rabinow, University of
California at Berkeley; Professor Bartha Maria Knoppers, University of
Montreal and Dr Iain Gillespie, OECD.

KEY THEME:
A key focus of this year's conference is Innovation in the Life Science
Industries with three dedicated sessions:

1) Bio-scenarios: The Future Impacts of Developments in the Life
Sciences; Professor Joyce Tait, Dr Iain Gillespie, Dr Paul Martin and Dr
Adriano Henney will take a constructive look at the constraints
inhibiting the commercial development of life science innovations, how
companies are adjusting their innovation strategies to capitalise more
effectively on new biotechnology developments, and how policy and other
initiatives could potentially 'free up' the innovation potential of the
life sciences. 

2) Innovation and Growth in Pharma-Biotech: Puzzles and Interpretations;
Professor Mariana Mazzucato, Professor Luigi Orsenigo, Professor Gary
Pisano and Professor William Lazonick will look at the relationship
between innovation, profits, and growth in the biotech and
pharmaceutical industries, highlighting the puzzles that the interesting
(and sometimes troubling) relationships raise for the future of the
sector. Policy relevant issues raised include:
-	Do the more innovative firms in this sector grow more than the
non-innovative ones?  
-	What are the organisational problems that firms face in
translating R&D spending into success? 
-	Is this translation affected by the ways that innovation is
financed (venture capital, private equity, government funding)? 
-	Are new business models required when science becomes a
business? 
-	To what extent does government funding of the underlying
knowledge base allow firms to focus more on other activities, e.g.
marketing and stock repurchases? Is this a problem? 

3) Life Sciences Industries and the Credit Crunch: Professor Gary Pisano
and Professor William Lazonick will discuss topical issues related to
the current financial crisis as relevant to the biotech-pharma sector.
This session will consider the impact of the current economic climate on
pharmaceutical innovation as the credit crunch spills over from the
financial sector and debate government's role in the workings of
capitalist markets both on the innovation and the finance side and the
links between these two aspects. 

Full abstract of the papers presented in these sessions are in the
conference brochure, available to download from
http://www.genomicsandsociety.org

REGISTRATION:
For further information about the conference, or to book your place,
please visit our website:
http://www.genomicsandsociety.org



Lara Crossland
Communications & Networking Officer
ESRC Innogen Centre,
Institute for the Study of Science, Technology and Innovation (ISSTI),
The University of Edinburgh, Old Surgeons' Hall, High School Yards,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1LZ

0131 650 2842
[log in to unmask]
http://www.genomicsnetwork.ac.uk/innogen

-- 
The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in
Scotland, with registration number SC005336.