Biotechnology is an enabling technology, the application of knowledge about living organisms, and their components, to industrial products and processes.

Northern Ireland has companies actively developing and exploiting biotechnology across the whole breadth of its application: from pharmaceuticals and diagnostics, through speciality chemicals, food and agriculture, to the environment.

The European market for goods and services dependent on biotechnology is currently estimated at £30,000 million and is forecast to exceed £100,000 million by the year 2005.

The biotechnology sector is comprised of companies that focus on the research, development and commercialisation of high technology, science-based products, generally in the areas of pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, the environment, agriculture and food.

BDO Stoy Hayward is committed to supporting companies involved in many areas of biotechnology, including:

• Diagnostics
• Pharmaceuticals
• Life Science Technologies
• Green Biotechnology (Animal healthcare, biopesticides, crop agriculture and food technology)
• White Biotechnology (Enzymes, food ingredients (e.g. vitamins), biological polymers and fine chemicals. Biocleaning, bioremediation, water or effluent treatment and waste recycling)
• Marine Biotechnology
• Technology Service Providers
• Regulatory Services