The pharmaceutical fair CPHI, the largest in the world, returns to Barcelona from this Tuesday until Thursday, occupying the entire Fira Gran Via venue. The event brings together the entire supply chain, with representatives from thousands of companies in the sector, from drug developers and manufacturers to consultants and providers of technologies and services. Almost 2,000 exhibitors and 40,000 congress attendees from 170 countries are expected to participate.
CPHI held its 2016 edition in the Catalan capital, which was "very popular" according to attendees. "It's a fantastic location and the city is home to one of Europe's most prosperous pharmaceutical and biotech industries," says Adam Andersen, Executive Vice President of Pharma at Informa Markets, the company organizing the show.
The show is expected to have an economic impact of more than 120 million euros in Barcelona, especially in the hospitality, restaurant, transport, and leisure sectors. "We hope that it not only represents a significant economic contribution to the city but also leaves a lasting positive legacy for Catalan and Spanish pharmaceutical companies over the coming year," adds Andersen. In fact, a CPHI report has positioned the Catalan capital as the second-best destination in Europe for biotechnology investments, only behind London, in addition to pointing to Spain as the sixth country in the world with the greatest growth potential for this industry for the coming year.
In the edition that opens this Tuesday, topics such as the development of formulations for new therapies, bioproduction, Industry 4.0, quality management, circular economy, and drug personalization will be addressed. For the first time, there will be a startups market, designed to accelerate the development of emerging companies by presenting their proposals to investors and the international community attending the fair. "It is a valuable business opportunity, for international connections and development for our country's pharmaceutical industry and for the local ecosystem of biotech and health startups," highlights the general director of Fira de Barcelona, Constantí Serrallonga.
CPHI is part of the twenty congresses in the medical and health field that Fira de Barcelona has held throughout this year. Also noteworthy have been Infarma, the World Parkinson Congress or the World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer. Broadening the focus, the fair institution is immersed in an intense autumn, with more than 100 events scheduled. After the pharmaceutical fair, the Smart City Expo World Congress, Piscina & Wellness Barcelona and IBTM World will follow.