Nearly 400 people from 21 different countries and 203 companies has had over 500 one-to-one meetings in Oslo at the ECCP2010.

Bjarte Reve

The second gathering of the European Cancer Cluster Partnering – event in Oslo has been a great success. Nearly 400 people from 21 different countries and 203 companies has had over 500 one-to-one meetings and attended a broad program with an international range of speakers addressing the key issues in translational oncology.

– The first ECCP-event in Toulouse last year, and this years meeting in Oslo has manifested that ECCP-concept is a vital networking arena for the oncology community in Europe. The opening at the modern and striking Opera house in the center of the city set the tune for the event, says Bjarte Reve, CEO of Oslo Cancer Cluster.

Professional meeting

Eric Tholin, medical director of Amgen Norway has been a diamond sponsor, and he was delighted with the event.

– This is a very professional meeting, well organized and an important international meeting place. Amgen has been focusing in our pipeline in biotechnology and oncology and we are very pleased with both the partnering and the exhibition, says Tholin.

Anna Thorsell Bertland is business development manager in the Swedish company Stricent.

– ECCP is an excellent platform for networking within the oncology community. It is truly important that the focus in only on oncology, unlike so many other events that are broader and more general, says Thorsell Bertland. She also says that Stricent has had a many relevant partnering meetings, and that she will follow up several potential collaborators. – The Oncology 2020 lecture on Thursday September 16th was interesting and gave some very useful insights as well, says Thorsell Bertland.

Lectures with perspective

Gustav Gaudernack, professor at the Oslo University Hospital/Radium Hospital and the founder of several small oncology companies, is also very pleased with the event.

– My fellow colleagues and I in the academic field, truly enjoyed the lectures on Thursday. The topics gave us the chance to broaden our perspectives. The fact that ECCP brings together researchers, VC´s, CEO´s and clinicians makes it very interesting and profitable, says Gaudernack.

Business partners

Jonas Einarsson, head of the board of Oslo Cancer Cluster, is satisfied with ECCP 2010.

-The comments I get from everyone is that this event is important and productive because it is only focused on oncology. Several of the participants will travel from Oslo with both new and potential business partners, and I feel very assured that we have achieved in making a valid meeting place for people in the oncology community all over Europe, says Einarsson.”

Source: Oslo Cancer Cluster