Profile – Børge Diderichsen

Børge Diderichsen (Fig. 1) is the President of the European Federation of Biotechnology (EFB) and Vice President at Novo Nordisk (Denmark). After a master's degree in biochemistry, followed by a Ph.D. in microbiology, both from the University of Copenhagen, he joined Novo Industry as part of a small team of researchers who were to examine whether genetically modified organisms (GMOs) could be used in the production of insulin and industrial enzymes. Since then he has played an important role in Novo Nordisk's efforts to resolve many of the problems that arise in connection with the production of GMOs and was a pioneer in bringing some of the first industrial enzymes from GMOs onto the market. Diderichsen has many honorary titles and has served on a large number of boards and commissions. Most recently he was invited to join the Commissioner's Advisory Group for Life Sciences, Genomics and Biotechnology for Health corresponding to the 6th Framework Programme. For more than 20 years he has contributed to the public debate concerning genetic engineering and ethics, biotechnology and society, conditions for universities and public research among others. He has been a major force in reforming the EFB, of which he was elected president in January 2002.