Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, agriculture and high-tech materials. As an inventor company, it sets trends in research-intensive areas. Bayer's products and services are designed to benefit people and improve the quality of life. At the same time, the Group aims to create value through innovation, growth and high earning power. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development and acts as a socially and ethically responsible corporate citizen. In fiscal 2011, the Group employed about 112,000 people and had sales of €36.5 billion. Capital expenditures amounted to €1.7 billion, R&D expenses to €2.9 billion. 

The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world's 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it operates globally with 145 affiliates and more than 44,000 employees. Since it was founded in 1885, the family-owned company has been committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing novel medications of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.

As a central element of its culture, Boehringer Ingelheim pledges to act socially responsible. Involvement in social projects, caring for employees and their families, and providing equal opportunities for all employees form the foundation of the global operations. Mutual cooperation and respect, as well as environmental protection and sustainability are intrinsic factors in all of Boehringer Ingelheim's endeavours.

In 2011, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of about 13.2 billion euro. R&D expenditure in the business area Prescription Medicines corresponds to 23.5% of its net sales.

INRA is a mission-oriented research institute that produces knowledge and supports economic and social innovation. INRA's ‘targeted research' approach, along with the Institute's coordination, distribution and transfer capacities, mobilizes a wide range of professionals in the academic, social, civic and regional spheres.

Inventiva is a biotechnology company specializing in research partnerships with pharmaceutical firms in therapeutic fields mainly linked to the treatment of Parkinson's disease, immune-inflammation diseases, fibroses and cancer. Inventiva leads research programs to the pre-clinical stage by offering its recognized expertise in nuclear receptors, transcription factors and epigenetic modulation to pharmaceutical groups. With a research centre based at Daix, near the city of Dijon (Burgundy region, France), Inventiva has more than 70 experienced members of staff, including around 20 researchers and more than 40 specialized technicians.

Merck is a global pharmaceutical and chemical company with total revenues of EUR 7.6 billion in 2008, a history that began in 1668, and a future shaped by 32,800 employees in 59 countries. Its success is characterized by innovations from entrepreneurial employees. Merck's operating activities come under the umbrella of Merck KGaA, in which the Merck family holds an approximately 70% interest and free shareholders own the remaining approximately 30%. In 1917 the U.S. subsidiary Merck & Co. was expropriated and has been an independent company ever since.

Merck KGaA deployed TEMIS to support hypothesis generation and validation services of their Research Knowledge Management department. Luxid® for Scientific Discovery detects the specific concepts of the Life Sciences domain such as biological and chemical entities or diseases as well as their respective relations to one another. Luxid® for Scientific Discovery give access to results through an intuitive interface in order to allow for the efficient detection of relevant pieces of information, and also for in-depth data mining.

Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) is the leading international tobacco company, with seven of the world's top 15 international brands, including Marlboro, the number one cigarette brand worldwide. PMI's products are sold in approximately 180 countries. In 2011, the company held an estimated 16.0% share of the total international cigarette market outside of the U.S., or 28.1% excluding the People's Republic of China and the U.S. 

Serving a comprehensive range of industrial sectors, Roquette is one of the world's most advanced producers of starch and starch derivatives. It is also its leading expert in polyols, and the leading European producer of maltodextrins, pyrogen free raw materials and cationic starches.

Roquette factories in Europe, America and Asia process exclusively renewable raw materials, such as maize, wheat, potatoes and peas; over 700 products in worldwide demand testify to the quality and success of the company's outstanding research, sourcing, production and delivery systems.

Sanofi, a global and diversified healthcare leader, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions focused on patients' needs. Sanofi has core strengths in the field of healthcare with seven growth platforms: diabetes solutions, human vaccines, innovative drugs, consumer healthcare, emerging markets, animal health and the new Genzyme. Sanofi is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY).

Transgene, a member of the Institut Mérieux Group, is a publicly traded French biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of therapeutic vaccines and immunotherapeutic products in oncology and infectious diseases and has four compounds in phase 2 clinical development: TG4010 and JX594/TG6006 having already completed initial phase 2 trials, TG4001 and TG4040. Transgene has concluded strategic agreements for the  development of two of its immunotherapy products: an option agreement with Novartis for the development of TG4010 to treat various cancers and an in-licensing agreement with US-based Jennerex, Inc. to develop and market JX594/TG6006, an oncolytic virus. Transgene has bio-manufacturing capacities for viral-based products. 

UCB, Brussels, Belgium is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines and solutions to transform the lives of people living with severe diseases of the immune system or of the central nervous system. With more than 8,000 people in about 40 countries, the company generated revenue of EUR 3.2 billion in 2011. UCB is listed on Euronext Brussels (symbol: UCB).