13th International Bio-Tech Symposium(IBS-2008) & Expo Opened in Dalian

The 13th IBS & Expo had a grand opening on 13th October at the World Fair Plaza of Dalian, and had lasted for four days. It was sponsored by The Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS), The Chinese Academy of Engineering(CAE), State Ministry of Education of China, State Ministry of Science & Technology of China, and State Commission of Development & Transformation of China. Organizing Institutions of the IBS-2008 included Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics of CAS, Dalian University of Technology, East-China University of Technology(ECUT) and the Municipal Government of Dalian.

The opening ceremony was presided over by Prof. LI Jiayang, Vice-President of CAS. Speakers in the opening ceremony were Mr. XIA Deren, Mayor of Dalian City, Prof. YANG Shengli, Chairman of Academic Committee of the IBS-2008, and Prof. F. Nicotra, Chairman of the Bio-Tech Committee of IUPAC. Among the distinguished guests attending the ceremony were Prof.

XU Rigan, Vice-President of CAE, Prof. Murray Moo-Young, Fellow of Royal Society, UK, and Co-Chairman of International Consulting Committee of IBS-2008, Prof. ZHANG Tao, Director of DICP, Prof. ZHANG Dexiang, Secretary of Chinese Communist Party Committee of DUT, and Prof. QIAN Yuhong, Dean of ECUT.

A total of 1500 participants coming from more than 80 countries had registered in the Symposium, among them were over 600 scientists from abroad. The IBS-2008 was financially supported by globally notable companies such as Monsanto, British Petroleum, Du Pont, etc. Large Chinese bio-tech enterprises like the Fengyuan Group, the Chinese Pharmaceutical Group and the Jiuhuan Group also supported the Symposium financially.

Nine sub-symposia were arranged to host 56 special topics. 220 invited lectures were delivered by world famous scholars, including two Nobel Prize winners, several tens of academicians from various countries, and Presidents and CEO's of well known bio-tech companies.

The IBS was initiated by the International Union of Pure & Applied Chemistry(IUPAC) in 1960, and is to be held every 4 years in alternative continents. The theme of the IBS-2008 was "Bio-technologies for the sustainable development of the human society". In this year s IBS, 20 IBS prizes and 20 Nominate prizes were established for the first time to award outstanding young bio-tech scientists and PhD students. The prizes were financially supported by the BP Co.