Our chairwoman, Ana Polanco, receives National Biotechnology Award
ISDE has recognised Polanco for her contribution to transforming the growth model through the biotechnology industry
The ceremony took place this Friday at the school’s building at Calle Serrano 208, led by Juan José Sánchez Puig, CEO of ISDE (Digital Law Business School).
The award has a long history, with a consolidated place as a benchmark in the sector. Previous recipients include: María Blasco, José Luis García López, José María Fernández Sousa-Faro, Regina Revilla, Rosario Cospedal, Cristina Garmendia, Francisco Martínez Mojica and Luis Enjuanes.
The panel of judges, led by Martín Hernández-Palacios Martín-Neda, director of the ISDE Master in Biotechnology and Law, with Luis Truchado as Secretary, featured over twenty experts from various areas of the biotechnology arena in Spain: Rosario Cospedal, Belén Barreiro, Fernando Peláez, Lluís Montoliu, Miguel Angel Llamas, Jaime from Barrio, Cristina Cortés, Carolina Egea, Belén Sopesén, Teresa Garcia-Noblejas, Elena Rivas, María Lladró, Gema Lloret, Simón Perera, Pilar de la Huerta, Gonzaga Ruíz de Gauna, Roi Villar, Rogelio Pardo and José Escribano. AseBio Chairwoman Ana Polanco received a clear majority in the first round of voting, given her laudable contribution to promoting biotechnology internationally.
The panel of judges highlighted her tenacity in promoting biotechnology as a strategic sector for advancing scientific/technological progress and sustainable economic development. Her career has included time in the business sector, with over 20 years in leadership positions at multinational corporations in the health sector (currently Head of Europe Market Access & Pricing and Government & Public Affairs at Merck) as well as holding institutional positions, such as chairwoman of the Spanish Bioindustry Association (AseBio), where she works to create a favourable environment to make the most of the biotechnology sector’s great potential to drive the industry and economy, and generate highly qualified jobs.
In his opening speech, Puig started off by stressing the weight biotechnology is taking on in the knowledge society and as a foundation for developing the new economy: “The revolution the sector is undergoing thanks to the applied potential of information technologies, and the role they will continue to have in the future, is opening up new opportunities to move the world economy towards more sustainable development and better quality of life, which will take shape in spectacular advances at all levels and new scientific discoveries.”
After a speech by Merck Head of Public Affairs & Policy Elisa Diaz Martínez, the chairwoman of AseBio gave her thank-you speech, highlighting the value of biotechnology as a strategic factor in economic and industrial growth, social wellbeing and quality employment: “We all know that knowledge transfer is a big challenge we have to face as a country and only through biotechnology will we be able to turn the largest science budget in our history into an innovative, resilient industrial fabric,” the award-winner noted.
She also referenced the values that will inspire the new generations of professionals: “When I look back at the girl I was, I think of my children, our young people, and how important is it for them to have role models, mirrors they feel reflected in. Hopefully my career and this award today will inspire the future paths of our young people,” she concluded.