INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIC ALLIANCES IN BIOTECHNOLOGY - WHERE DOES EASTERN-EUROPE FIT IN

Biotechnology, which will affect a wide array of industrial sectors ov er the coming years, is an avenue for economic development in Eastern Europe. These countries will, however, have to forge the sorts of inte rnational alliances that have become the norm in commercial biotechnol ogy. The author discusses the organizational strategies that universit ies and institutionally sponsored laboratories in Eastern Europe have to use to attract alliances with foreign biotechnology firms. Data tha t demonstrate and explain international patterns in biotechnology are considered. The hurdles that Eastern Europeans face in joining the int ernational biotechnology network are identified. Frameworks are presen ted that outline the types of arrangements available to the Eastern Eu ropean partners, and help in deciding which options are most appropria te in the short and long terms. Finally, several efforts to establish international biotechnology alliances in Hungary are discussed.