Biotechnica 2015

BIOTECHNICA in Hannover reflects the trend to increasing digitalization. The event will see the premiere of the new Marketplace Bio-IT featuring forum events focused on such themes as "Challenges and Opportunities of Data Integration in the Life Sciences" and "Next Generation Sequencing: NGS Informatics". The Marketplaces are the perfect vehicle for the BIOTECHNICA highlights: bio-IT, bio-economics and personalized medicine technology.

Combining the knowledge and methods of the bio-sciences with mathematics and informatics, bioinformatics has a profound impact on biological, bio-chemical, medical and genetics research. The presentation spans the entire spectrum from basic research and applied research through to concrete therapy recommendations and personalized medicine. The chief role of bio-informatics is to collect, manage and interpret data. In fact, bio-informatics has already contributed to some remarkable achievements in the bio-sciences. For instance, the complete sequencing of the human genome would not have been possible without modern computer analysis and worldwide open source. Big Data – the analysis of large volumes of data (> 1 petabyte = 1015 bytes) from several often heterogeneous, non-structured sources – is therefore of inordinate significance. Such pools of data can include, for example, genome databases, the results of clinical studies and databases of specialist medical articles. These large data sets need to be examined and analyzed using new, innovative software tools in order to secure new value for patients.

At a time when smart phones and tablets have become ubiquitous, special attention must also be paid to mobile applications. Smartphones already serve as a means of accessing medical research data and thus play an important role in basic and clinical research. Electronic patient records provide hospital doctors with a comprehensive overview of patient findings and in combination with bioinformatics and IT applications can be used as a basis for suitable therapy and recommendations for further treatment. At the same time, wearables are capable of monitoring physical activities and readings such as pulse rates. This data can be used by individuals to take personal steps to improve their own fitness levels or synchronized with other applications. It would also be possible, for example, for doctors to use digital devices to evaluate the health needs of their patients based on this data and decide whether further appointments for treatment or consultations are required.

At the Bio-IT Marketplace the focus is on the processing and storage of big volumes of (genome) data and the use of bio-molecules in computers, as well as data security and legal security. The presentation of content will be planned in cooperation with the German working group “BIO-Deutschland-Arbeitsgruppe Bio IT und Big Data”. Visitors from R&D and industry will benefit from the Bio-IT Marketplace and gain useful insights into bio-informatics, as well as find the Big Data and software solutions they require in the life sciences and automation. The Bio-IT Marketplace will also attract suppliers of IT solutions for biotechnology, medicine and the pharmaceutical industry, as well as bio-information service providers geared to research projects in biotechnology and biomedicine. Other keynotes include hardware, IT infrastructure & IT security and healthcare IT. The Marketplace Bio-IT is only one of a number of new features at BIOTECHNICA -the centralization of the various marketplaces at the BIOTECHNICA PLAZA is another innovation. Forming the heart of the trade fair, these displays create a central platform dedicated to keynote themes, which is augmented by forum stages and a networking and partnering area.