Life Science in Iceland Life science in Iceland – Summary A population with all three sets of data: genetic, medical and genealogical 70-90% volunteer participation in research projects Unique research databases and bio-banks containing medical and pathological records Leading companies in the field of generic drug production and medical technology such as diagnostics and prosthetics Advanced research infrastructure and a relatively large number of highly qualified specialists Excellent access to high-throughput laboratories Environment and climate enable pesticide-free agriculture and horticulture with ideal, automatic in-field containment of many transgenic plants Geothermal areas which foster an amazing biodiversity, including unique thermophile bacteria Europeʼs most competitive economy and #4 globally according to the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2005 Positive business environment with minimum red tape, only 18% corporate income tax and a simple and efficient tax system Ideal location between North America and Europe, linking two of the worldʼs strongest markets and research communities As a founding member of European Economic Area, Iceland is part of the single European market ensuring tariff-free access for most products Companies, research institutions and universities have access to European Union R&D research programmes and are eligible for EU funding Invest in Iceland Agency Invest in Iceland Agency is an independent agency While every effort has been made to ensure that of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. The the information in this publication is correct, the Agency’s advisors provide information free of publishers cannot accept liability for any errors or charge and expert confidential service on all omissions. aspects of investments in Iceland. The Agency assists in finding suitable research or business For further information on Iceland please partners in Iceland, provides contact information contact the Invest in Iceland Agency. The entire or establishes direct contact to relevant entities. text of this publication is available on the Invest This report is compiled and written by the Invest in Iceland Agency websites: www.invest.is in Iceland Agency. The sources are official data and www.icelandbio.com and there are also and reports, information supplied by individual references to further sources of information on companies and corporate websites. Some of the the internet. Reproduction for non-commercial text is published by courtesy of Reykjavik Resources, distribution is allowed provided that the source is the City of Reykjavik investment agency. acknowledged. www.icelandbio.com 4 Index LIFE SCIENCE IN ICELAND – SUMMARY ..............................................................................4 INTRODUCTION TO ICELAND’S UNIQUE RESOURCES .......................................................6 A SOURCE OF ENERGY AND INSPIRATION ......................................................................6 NATURAL AND HUMAN RESOURCES ..............................................................................6 THE GENEALOGICAL GOLD MINE AS A RESOURCE ...........................................................7 GENOMICS ......................................................................................................................7 POPULATION BASED RESEARCH .....................................................................................7 BIOBANKS AND REGISTRIES ............................................................................................8 Access to biobanks in Iceland ..........................................................................................8 Overview over licensed biobanks in Iceland .....................................................................9 THE EXTREME NATURE AS A RESOURCE ..........................................................................10 THERMOPHILE BACTERIA ..............................................................................................10 MARINE PRODUCTS ......................................................................................................10 SELECTIVE BREEDING OF FISH .......................................................................................11 THE CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT AS A RESOURCE .......................................................12 MOLECULAR PHARMING – CONTAINING TRANSGENIC PLANTS ..................................12 GROWTH CHAMBERS – CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT .................................................12 THE ADVANCED HEALTH INDUSTRY AS A RESOURCE .....................................................13 HIGH-TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH HOSPITAL ...................................................................13 BIOMEDICINE ................................................................................................................14 STEM CELL RESEARCH ...................................................................................................14 MEDICAL DEVICES ........................................................................................................15 INFRASTRUCTURE AS A RESOURCE ...................................................................................16 THE GROWTH OF LIFE SCIENCES IN ICELAND ...............................................................16 EDUCATION AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS .................................................................16 INVESTMENT IN RESEARCH ...........................................................................................17 LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND PATENTS .............................................................................18 Science laws ..................................................................................................................18 Data protection and privacy ...........................................................................................18 Biobanks and the Icelandic Health Sector Database .......................................................18 Biotechnology ...............................................................................................................19 Genetically modified organisms .....................................................................................19 Embryonic stem cell research .........................................................................................19 Patenting .......................................................................................................................19 INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND FUNDING ...........................................................20 ICT AND LOGISTICS .......................................................................................................20 THE POSITIVE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AS A RESOURCE .............................................21 ICELAND’S COMPETITIVENESS ......................................................................................21 DOING BUSINESS IN ICELAND .......................................................................................21 FURTHER INFORMATION ................................................................................................... 23 CORPORATE WEBSITES .................................................................................................23 OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION .............................................................................27 5 Introduction to Iceland’s unique resources Genealogical gold mine Iceland’s resource in human genetics – a population with all three sets of data: genetic, medical and genealogical – is created by the Icelandic Sagas, old church records, general interest in genealogy, widespread voluntary participation in research programs and extensive biobanks. The entire present-day population is covered by a genealogy database, stretching back to the settle- ment of the country more than 1000 years ago Iceland is Europe’s most competitive economy and ranks #4 overall, following the US, Hong Kong and Singapore, according to The IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2005. This positive business environment is just one of Iceland’s resources for Life Science, biotechnology and the medical industry. With total R&D expenditure of over 3% of GDP, an advanced health care system, expertise in harvesting from the riches of unique natural resources, technical sophistication, comprehensive biobanks and data registries, an ideal location between two of the world’s strongest markets and a population both positive towards research programs and willing to volunteer, it is no wonder that Iceland has experienced a rapid expansion in life science. Today Iceland is home to world-leading companies in population-based genomics, ecological genomics involving thermophilic bacteria from geothermal areas, molecular pharming of transgenic plants, prosthetics and medical diagnostic devices. A source of energy and inspiration Iceland lies on top of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the tectonic plates of Europe and North America meet. The constant movement of these plates explains the volcanic and geothermal activity in Iceland’s nature which is a massive source of energy. Some have pointed out that Iceland lies midway between Europe and America not only geologically but also culturally, enjoying both the comprehensive Scandinavian health care and educational system and the North American belief in entrepreneurship and individual freedom. Living on an island, it has always been a necessary and natural part of the lives of Icelanders to go abroad to seek knowledge and new influences and