Dr Guy Cardineau, Head of a plant-biotechnology research group and Professor at the Faculty of Law (patents) at Arizona State University. Plant-scientist formerly holding executive positions with Mycogen and DowAgroSciences, was the first to file a patent on plant-made edible vaccines. Wrote, filed and litigated numerous patents. Lives in Phoenix, Arizona.

Dr Richard Gill, CEO of ProNAi (USA) and expert dealmaker from Boston, USA, formerly CEO of BTG USA (Philadelphia) and a series of public and private companies, developed and sold in the Boston area (Signet Laboratories, Genome Therapeutics, AnVil). Began his career with Unilever (UK), lives in Boston, USA.

Dr Peter Heifetz, CSO of Rincon Pharmaceuticals (San Diego, CA), formerly Research Fellow, Pharmaceutical R&D at Diversa Corporation, Head of Biopharma & Consumer Health at the Torrey Mesa Research Institute (Syngenta Corporation) and other research and management positions at Novartis, Ciba-Geigy and Incon Corporation. Practiced extensively in discovery, manufacturing and development of protein and small molecule drugs, has degrees in Biochemical Engineering and Genetics (Duke University) and significant expertise in intellectual property strategy. Lives in San Diego, California.

Dr Dolors Ludevid, 20-year basic researcher and Head, Department of Molecular Genetics at Consejo Superior de investigaciones científicas (CSIC). Her field is the reserve proteins of cereals (how do seeds accumulate nutriments and energy for the eventual growth of the embryo). Co-founder of ERA, lead inventor of ERA’s first patent. Lives in Barcelona, Spain.

Dr Zivko Nikolov, Dow Professor in Bioprocessing Engineering at Texas A&M University. Before joining Texas A&M in 2003, he was vice president of bioprocess development with ProdiGene Inc., professor at Iowa State University, and a senior scientist at Michigan Biotech Institute. Zivko has published more than 70 scientific articles and book chapters in the area of biochemical engineering and protein recovery. Lives in College Station, Texas.

Dr Margarita Torrent, 20-year basic researcher at Consejo Superior de investigaciones científicas (CSIC) in Barcelona. Co-founder of ERA Biotech, and co-inventor of ERA Biotech’s first patent. Lives in Barcelona, Spain.

Julia Winter, consultant in biotech financing, represents in Spain a major European venture capital firm.  Previously VC with InterWest Partners in California and Dir. BusDev.,  ALZA Corporation. Runs "Biotapas” (networking events).  MBA (Stanford U., CA), A.B. in Biology (Smith College, MA, USA). Lives in Barcelona.

Dr Werner Wolf, Senior Advisor with a major Germany/USA biotech VC; formerly VP R&D, Boehringer Mannheim; chairman, European Yeast Industrial Platform; advisor, European Commission, Institute of Plant Biochemistry (Halle).