Expressions of interest are being sought from Australian biotechnology companies interested in joining a trade mission to the United Kingdom and BioPartnering Europe 2004.

The mission, which will include 15 Australian biotechnology companies, is being put together by UK Trade and Investment and Austrade, and follows on from a pilot program last year, which saw a dozen Victorian companies tour several biotech clusters in the UK.

The companies will attend a partnering program in the Scandinavian biotech cluster Medicon Valley, prior to participating in BioPartnering Europe 2004 in London from 10-12 October.

After the partnering conference, the delegates will be matched up with British companies in a special partnering session, which will also involve a number of other countries including New Zealand, France and Israel.

"Last year we took the companies all over the countryside to various biotech locations, but this year the British companies chosen to meet with the Australian delegates will come to London," said Rob Hemming, trade development manager at the British Consulate-General in Melbourne and joint leader of the Australian delegation with the BioMelbourne Network's Tim Murphy.

The cost of the mission will be borne by UK Trade and Investment, Austrade, and state governments.

"There is no direct cost for companies to participate in the program," Murphy said.

Companies interested in going should be working in one or more of the following areas: genomics, biomanufacturing, neuroscience, structural biology, metabolic disorders, agbio, medical devices, stem cells, infectious diseases, oncology, vaccines and clinical trials.