Symposium international sur la biotechnologie , à Sfax Tunisie

The International symposium on Biotechnology “ISB 2008 has been held in Sfax between 4th and 8th May 2008. This event was organized by the Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax “CBS” under the patronage of the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Technology, in collaboration with the following institutions:
- International Center of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology “ICGEB”
- University of Sfax “US”
- Tunisian Union for Industry, Commerce and Handicrafts “UTICA”
The main objective of this symposium was to promote the creation and dissemination of
rapidly growing knowledge in the different biotechnology areas covered in this occasion and
to allow to senior and junior scientists from all over the world to meet in Tunisia. In this
context, three topics and six satellite sessions were planed:

•  Topic 1 ( Biotechnology for human health)
•  Topic 2 (Microbial and Environmental Biotechnology )
•  Topic 3 ( Agricultural, Food and Marine Biotechnology)
• Satellite Session1: Innovative Biotechnology (European Project PROMEMBRANE)
•  Satellite Session2: Biosafety and Quality management in Biotechnology laboratories
•  Satellite Session3: Advances in hearing sciences: from functional genomics totherapies (European Project EUROHEAR)
•  Satellite Session 4: Sesame a treasure of healthy benefits (with agro food industrials)
•  Satellite Session 5: Developments for biotechnological research: success stories andnetworking
• Satellite Session 6: Incubating innovations (Start-ups and Spin-offs): Fromopportunities to innovative companies.

This event gathered more than 700 attendees:
- 30 international invited speakers
- 220 foreign participants
- 35 participants from satellite sessions
- 40 sponsors and exhibitors
- 400 Tunisian participants
40 countries were represented in this event: (Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria,Pakistan, India, Turkey, Morocco, Jordan, Romania, Georgia, Italy, France, Palestine, Mexico, Lebanon, United States of America, Cameroon, Qatar, Portugal, Belgium, Bahrain, Colombia,
Greece, Spain, Japan, South Africa, Kuwait, Malaysia, Germany, Bangladesh,, Croatia, Brazil, United Kingdom, Libya , Sudan, Sri lanka, Nigeria).
The opening ceremony was chaired by Mr. the secretary of State in charge of the scientific research in Tunisia and in presence of the president of the University of Sfax, the President of the UTICA and the representative of the ICGEB director general.
At the end, we would like to certify that our real proud is actually the important number of congratulations testifying of the successful organization and the excellent scientific level of this event. Below some types of testimonials:
1) Dear Prof. H. Ayadi,
Thanks for email and allow me to congratulate you and the CBS team for the very well organized and impressive meeting. Actually, I suggest doing it once every two years. Concerning evaluation, I think it was pretty well.
There were some problems in timing stuff of some sessions. But, I think with such big number of participants and having three sessions and some satellites at the same time, things like this happen everywhere. So in general it was very nice and the hospitality was extremely excellent and warm. I felt more than at home. What surprised me is they very good level of Tunisian scientists and the well established research structure in comparison to other Arab countries.
My evaluation is as follows:
Level / Score
Symposium organization Excellent
Scientific program Excellent
Finally, please accept my best wishes.
Truly yours,
Yaqoub Ashhab, PhD.
Associated Professor of Molecular Biology
Biotechnology Training and Research Unit
Palestine Polytechnic University
Hebron, Palestine
2) Dear Dr. H. Ayadi
After attending Symposium and a week vaccation, I have joined back my Institute at University of Sindh Jamshoro, Pakistan today.
This e.mail is to congratulate you for organizing this successful International Symposium on Biotechnology. I have participated in many symposia and conferences in my country and a conference in Egypt but symposium organized by CBS is more informative and meaningful that provides opportunity to researchers especially young researchers.
Overall the organization of symposium and scientific programs are in excellent category.
In last I am thankful to organizing committe and CBS for providing me all possible facilities during symposium.With Best Regards Muhammad Rafiq Lecturer Institute of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, University of Sindh, Jamshoro,PAKISTAN
3) Dear Prof Hammadi
I feel that Ecellent is Not enough term in your symposium terminology. Every single item your team did deserves mor than excellent . We will be more than happy to come back and back to your lovely country, meet you and your team.
Thanks so much.
Really all of you were excellent. Please consider my name in any further activities and international contacts.
Kindest regards
Nabil Mohie Abdel-Hamid/Egypt
Assoc Prof and Leader of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Research group

                                 
  Opening ceremony on the 4th of May 2008                                                                  photo Group