Pedro De Noronha Pissarra

Biography

Pedro obtained both his B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Biotechnology from Kings College London (University of London). He carried out research at several institutions, including the Chemical Engineering Department of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.), Cambridge, USA and at the Centre for Process Biotechnology (CPB) of the Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark. Following his Doctoral degree he specialized in medical sciences and oncology. After his Postdoctoral training he undertook a 12 month Masters Programme in Management at the IC2 Institute of the University of Texas, Austin, USA. Pedro was a visiting professor at the Catholic University of Porto during 2000-2007 where he delivered lectures in biopharmaceutical sciences. He was the Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Biotecnol SA, in Lisbon Portugal, up to March 2012. He currently holds the position of Executive Chairman and is an integral part of its Board of Directors. Prior to his current position he was a Board Member of Vida Rhein Corporation SA – a German-Portuguese joint venture, part of the Rhein Biotech NV group, dedicated to the development of Hepatitis B vaccines and other biosimilar products. Pedro was the founder of the Portuguese Bio-industries Association (APBio) and later had it incorporated into EuropaBio (the European Bioindustries Association). Between 1998 and 2005 he was the Chairman of APBio, and has been widely recognized as one of the key individuals in establishing and promoting the biotechnology industry in Portugal. Between 1997 and 2000 he was a member of the Advisory Group of the Biotechnology & Finance Forum, organized by the European Association of Security Dealers and Automated Quotations (EASDAQ), and the European Commission’s DG Research. He was a member of the National Council of the National Entrepreneurs Association (ANJE). Pedro was extensively involved in several EuropaBio initiatives and task forces. For several years he was a member of the Policy & Operations Council and Coordination Council, the Emerging Enterprises Sub-Board and the Biosimilar Products Task-Force. He has been involved since 1997 in several expert panels advising the European Commission in its biotechnology policies. He has also been involved in several Advisory Committees for the Portuguese Government. Pedro was a member of the Superior Counsel for Science, Technology and Innovation for the Portuguese Government, where he advised the Minister of Science and Technology in the implementation of the National Innovation Plan during the mandate of Dr. José Manuel Durão Barroso as Prime Minister of Portugal. Other recognitions included his participation in the Honor committee of the President of the Republic of Portugal, Prof. Aníbal Cavaco Silva in 2006. Pedro has been awarded the Medal of Merit by the Oeiras Council in Portugal in recognition for his role in promoting entrepreneurship and for services provided to the council of Oeiras, where Biotecnol SA, the biotech pioneer in Portugal started its operations and is present since 1997.

Research Interest

Chemical Engineering,Biotechnology