BIO Africa 2024

With a focus on global health challanges and the importance of local manufacturing capabilities, the theme of the 7th BIO Africa Convention was "Ensuring health security through investing in vaccine innovation and manufacturing".

Officially opened by the the South African Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Prof. Blade Nzimande, ICGEB was a strong presence at the 2024 Convention, and remains one of the Convention's main international partners. Taking place in Durban, KwaZulu Natal, the two-day event had eight tracks, looking at: R&D, One Health, Local Manufacturing, Procurement, Non-Communicable Diseases, Regulation, Pandemic Preparedness and Science Diplomacy. The goal of the Convention is centered upon the advancement of biotechnology development in Africa, providing an opportunity for dialogue and discussion with stakeholders in the global biotechnology industry.

ICGEB's participation in several sessions, led by Director-General Dr. Lawrence Banks included a keynote address in the opening plenary, an international perspective on South Africa's Vaccine Innovation Manufacturing Strategy, as well drug development for non-communicable diseaseas, with a focus on HPV. Dr Natasa Skoko and Dr Jenny Molloy also participated in the panel session led by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research on Local Biomanufacturing, sharing the ICGEB perspective on the organisations activities in this field, best practices and lessons learned.

ICGEB researchers led the two-day training workshops during the BIO Africa Academy held at the University of KwaZulu Natal, with Dr Natasa Skoko on 'Biological and Biosimilar medicines', and Dr Jenny Molloy on 'Local Manufacturing of Reagents to Improve Supply Chains for Biotechnology Research & Education'. ICGEB, through its Special Programme with South African Historically Disadvantaged Institutions (HDIs) with the South African Department of Science and Innovation, as well as the partnership with BIOAfrica, facilitated the participation of several HDI researchers in the Academy as well as the Convention.