BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The iBIO Institute has joined state bioscience organizations in a nationally coordinated effort to ensure America’s leadership in bioscience innovation by delivering industry-led life science education, workforce development and entrepreneurship programs across the country. The iBIO Institute is a founding member of this newly established group - the Coalition of Bioscience Institutes (CSBI). The formation of CSBI was announced today at the 2012 BIO International Convention, the industry’s global event for biotechnology that is hosted by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO).
“The iBIO Institute has many strong life science education programs in Illinois – touching over 500 teachers and 2,500 students and parents annually. By sharing programs with other state bioscience organizations through CSBI, we are positioned to make an even greater contribution to the life sciences by bringing more students into the biotech industry,” said Ann Reed, vice president of the EDUCATE Center of the iBIO Institute.
“The iBIO Institute has long been a leader in cutting edge educational programs here in Illinois,” said Illinois Governor Pat Quinn. “We are committed to growing jobs in emerging, technology-based industries, and supporting biosciences has and will continue to help Illinois play a key role in developing innovative programs that can be shared with other states.”
“CSBI is leveraging resources across the United States, including the iBIO Institutes’ current programs, to speak with a united voice for the biotech industry on life science education, workforce development and entrepreneurship,” said CSBI acting co-chair Lance Hartford, executive director, MassBioEd. “We focus on programs that life science industry is uniquely positioned to deliver and can be replicated across many states and scaled-up nationally.”
Currently, CSBI is identifying leading state programs for national consideration. These programs include teacher-training initiatives such as iBIO Institute’s TalentSparks!; workforce competitiveness programs including Oregon Bioscience Association’s BioPro and BIOCOM Institute’s BioCollaborative; and BayBio Institute’s Expert Network startup resource for entrepreneurs. CSBI is also designing a web-based clearinghouse of all current state-level programs focused on life science education, workforce training and entrepreneurship.
Working together since December 2011, CSBI serves as an umbrella for standard practice sharing, joint fundraising and national initiatives for life science (STEM) education (student education, career exploration and teacher professional development); workforce development (workforce training, incumbent worker professional development, dislocated worker training); and entrepreneurship. CSBI provides the opportunity for state bioscience organizations to share knowledge with the goal of improving bioscience education and innovation, while maximizing industry support. With its focus in these areas, the CSBI complements the life science policy work of the Council of State Bioscience Associations (CSBA), formed by BIO in 2002.
CSBI founding organizations include: BayBio Institute, BIOCOM Institute, Biotechnology Institute, iBIO Institute, KansasBio, MassBioEd, MdBio Foundation and Oregon Bioscience Association. Forty-one state bioscience organizations are CSBI members with nine additional groups expected to join. CSBI is co-chaired by BayBio Institute Executive Director Lori Lindburg and MassBioEd Executive Director Lance Hartford. The Biotechnology Institute serves as CSBI’s administrative organization. By partnering, CSBI members bring unprecedented access to programs, facilitate national communication and connect an extensive network of industry professionals.
ABOUT iBIO INSTITUTE
The mission of the iBIO Institute is to orchestrate business leadership in delivery of world-class educational programs and job-creating new technology ventures. The Institute’s EDUCATE Center delivers science and math programs for teachers and students, thereby inspiring the next generation of innovators and helping restore America’s leadership in technology education. The Institute’s PROPEL Center increases the number and success rate of early-stage life sciences companies in Illinois. To learn more about the iBIO Institute and its programs, visit www.ibioinstitute.org.
ABOUT THE BIO INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION
The BIO International Convention will highlight the latest trends and the newest opportunities for executives, investors, scientists, policy leaders and media from around the world. Speakers at the sessions will share breakthroughs in medicine, diagnostics, the environment, energy production, business operations, financing, partnerships, policy issues and food and agriculture. The Convention also features the BIO Business Forum, a unique platform for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, academic research institutions and investors from around the world to gather and discuss strategic opportunities. For registration, conference agenda and exhibitor information, visit www.convention.bio.org.
Members of the Coalition of State Bioscience Institutes (CSBI)
| Arizona BioIndustry Association |
| BayBio Institute |
| Bio Nebraska Life Sciences Association |
| Bio New Jersey |
| Bio Ohio, Edison Biotechnology Center |
| BIOCOM Institute |
| BioFlorida Institute |
| BioForward |
| Bioscience Association of Maine |
| Bioscience Association of West Virginia |
| Biotechnology Institute |
| Colorado Bioscience Association |
| Delaware BioScience Association |
| Georgia Bio |
| iBIO Institute |
| Idaho Technology Council |
| Indiana Health Industry Forum |
| INDUNIV Research Consortium |
| Iowa Biotechnology Association |
| Kansas Bioscience Organization |
| LifeScience Alley |
| Life Science Tennessee |
| Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation |
| MdBio Foundation, Inc. |
| MichBio Institute |
| Mississippi Biotechnology Association |
| Missouri Institute for Biotechnology and Innovation |
| Montana Bioscience Alliance |
| Nevada Biotechnology & Science Consortium |
| New Mexico Biotechnology & Biomedical Association |
| New York Biotechnology Association |
| Oklahoma Bioscience Institute |
| Oregon Bioscience Association |
| Pennsylvania Biotechnology Association |
| Rhode Island BioGroup – Tech Collective |
| SoCalBio |
| South Dakota Biotech Association |
| Texas Healthcare & Bioscience Institute |
| Utah TECH Workforce Foundation |
| Virginia Bio |
| Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association |