The development of new technologies, as well as the science behind this process, is essential to maintain a long - term economic growth and international competitiveness of industries and countries. Currently, there is no new area of science or technology possessing greater potential for long-term economic growth than biotechnology. In the future, over a third of all innovations will be based on findings from the life-sciences. The understanding of the mechanisms of life, which has grown enormously over the last 60 years, has led to the development of increasingly effective treatment concepts which are also kinder to the patients. By the years 2010 – 2011 the global pharma biotechnology market alone will reach the approx. 2,000 Bn mark worldwide while in 2005 in Europe it was only approx. 100 Bn.
    Already at the end of the nineties, 40 percent of the pharmaceutical patent applications worldwide were connected with biotechnology. In 2008 biotechnology products already accounted for 20 percent of the total pharmaceutical market. By 2011 - 2012 this share is expected to have doubled. In the field of biopharmaceuticals, research company structures worldwide have also been subject to noticeable changes in the last few years. The leading role of the large multinational pharmaceutical concerns has been significantly reduced and their share of patent applications fell dramatically already during the nineties. Thus, the relationship between the large pharmaceutical companies and the young biotechnology businesses becomes far more balanced.

    There is one more phenomenon to be considered very seriously. World economy changed a lot from 1950 to 2010 and forecasts indicate that the changes over the next 50 years will be equally dramatic. Therefore, BRIC countries (Brasilia, Russia, India, China) - and other Emerging Economies (EMECs) in general - are probably the most important economic and investment theme of our time. Growth generated by large EMECs is poised to become a much larger force in global economy. If sound policies are in place, EMECs economies will become the key drivers of global growth over the next 5 decades. If current combined GDP is 15% of global GDP, their combined GDP will considerably surpass GDP of G7 in ca 2032. Pharma is losing ground in major global markets and the year 2008 has been the year of divergence when CEOs started to rethink growth strategy and focus to the world beyond major markets. Pharma and Biotech landscape in EMECs is evolving fast and they should put in place strategies to capture the historic opportunity, what means to go for new drugs and other biologicals to fulfill unmet medical and industrial needs, to stimulate R&D, to control diseases and improve life. Naturally, drug discovery and development needs to be aligned to medical needs of “pharmerging” markets.
    Proper strategies and new policies in place will contribute also to the development of the social infrastructure, promotion of education and to retention of qualified professionals, development of healthcare, implementation of high technologies, and last but not least they will secure diversification of existing technologies and increase in international competitiveness of EMECs countries.
    While there is a strong focus to BRIC countries, less information is usually available on development of biotechnology and all its areas in other EMECs countries such as Mongolia, being one of the typical EMECs representatives.

    This issue of the Russian Biopharmaceutical Journal is presenting several papers submitted from R&D laboratories and Pilot Plant of the Life Science Centre of Excellence in Boroo Valley (Selenge Province, Mongolia), established by Shijir International LLC (majority owner Wisdom Asset Holdings Group LLC, “WAHG”) in Ulaanbaatar. The Center is the first operating facility of the major project of the Knowledge Based Cluster (Shijir Science City) planned in the greater Boroo Valley area. This project is a part of Life Science and Nanotechnology initiative in Mongolia, which started back in 90ties and has developed to its current status within last 4 years. Since 2009 it continues within the 1st in Mongolia Private Public Partnership (PPP) and major programs of Mongolian governmental bodies supporting development and implementation of high technologies in the country.

    Opportunities in Mongolia, similar to those in other EMECs, include following areas and scopes of activities /projects: 1) Adopting and development of new technologies in areas as downstream processing, upstream processing, large scale plant expression systems, etc.; 2) Processing of natural resources to obtain biologicals for use in healthcare (APIs, diagnostics, therapeutics) or as cosmeteceuticals, nutraceuticals, etc.; 3) Strategic development of novel medicines and of novel biologicals for other applications; 4) Funding of the research of new fields of medicine (e.g. investigating local traditional medicines; researching local resources i.e. microorganisms, flora and fauna; vaccines; stem cell research; etc.). In addition to these the Cluster will include also Life Science contract research and contract manufacturing, training and research based medical facility (will include Clinical CRO), training and qualification improvement center, as well as other biotechnology areas such as agri-biotech and aquacultures. It is obvious that Nanotechnology is developing very fast and Mongolia has some special resources which will enable this development (nanotechnology R&D Center, nanotechnology manufacturing facilities).

    Above listed opportunities in Mongolia are based and dependent on three factors:
1. People: additionally to domestic education a number of undergraduates, graduates, postdocs, engineers, economists studying and trained abroad. International professionals, e.g. from Ukraine, participate in the development, and foreign entities as GH BioQuenta Consulting e.U. (Vienna), ABD Life Sciences Ltd. (Hong Kong) and other provide a portfolio of support services to the initiative.
2. Funding: the 1st PPP was established between WAHG LLC (Shijir International and other owned entities and partners) and National Development and Innovation Committee (NDIC), Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, and other governmental bodies. A funding by National Mega Projects Program of Mongolia with the state as an Angel Investor was established and other resources are developed. WAHG’s global private equity funds will be established in international financial centers to create opportunities for global investors.
3. Technology: Own portfolio of developed methods and technologies is available in Shijir Intl. / WAHG LLC. Development is secured within combined efforts of foreign and domestic specialists. Acquisitions abroad are also planned and negotiated.

    Journal of Biopharmaceuticals has a privilege to provide an exclusive insight into recent achievements in Mongolian biotechnology

Dr. Gabriel Halat, PhD.
GH BioQuenta Consulting e.U.
Consulting Board Member, Wisdom Asset Holdings Group LLC

Array