WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The 2012 BIO International Convention, the global event for biotechnology, wrapped up today at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center in Boston, Mass., hosting a record 25,291 partnering meetings and highlighting a broad array of top-level speakers addressing critical global challenges and the top issues in biotechnology. Hosted by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the event drew 16,505 industry leaders from 49 states and 65 countries.
“This week’s BIO International Convention was a phenomenal success. The true value of the event was bringing together more than 16,000 industry leaders for partnering discussions, and deal-making activities,” said Jim Greenwood, president and CEO of BIO. “The over-arching sentiment shared by the majority of attendees is a positive outlook for the future of our industry. The business relationships, knowledge and partnerships born here this week will help drive the global biotechnology community and economic growth as we continue in our efforts to develop cures, breakthrough medicines and other technologies that will make our world a cleaner, safer, and healthier place.”
More than one-third of attendees were international, with the largest delegations representing (in order) Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Australia, China and Brazil. The Convention drew attendees from 49 states, with the largest representation (in order) from Massachusetts, California, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, District of Columbia, North Carolina, Illinois and Virginia.
Six U.S. governors attended this year's event: Governor Steve Beshear (KY), Governor Dennis Daugaard (SD), Governor Deval Patrick (MA), Governor Bev Perdue (NC), Governor Rick Perry (TX), and Governor Pat Quinn (IL).
In addition, more than 100 high-level public officials attended, including:
- first-time ministerial-level participation from Turkey and Algeria
- first-time high-level participation from major emerging markets Russia and South Africa
- first-time attendance of His Royal Highness Felipe, Prince of Asturias (Spain)
- international leadership award presented to The Rt. Hon. David Willetts, Minister of Universities & Science (U.K.)
The full Convention program featured more than 800 speakers in 125 breakout sessions across 14 tracks, addressing the latest scientific, policy and business opportunities and challenges facing the biotechnology industry today.
The BIO Business Forum connected biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, academic research institutions and investors from around the world for one-on-one meetings to discuss potential partnerships and collaborations, hosted partnering meetings between 2,900 companies and 190 company presentations. New this year, Exhibitor Partnering hosted 4,300 partnering meetings within the BIO Exhibition.
In addition, the 180,550 sq. ft. BIO Exhibition featured more than 2,000 exhibitors. The BIO Exhibition included 34 country and 26 state pavilions.
The BIO International Convention is the world’s largest event for the biotechnology industry. Next year’s event will be held April 22-25 in Chicago, Illinois at McCormick Place.
"In Illinois, the bioscience industry is thriving, thanks to our central geography, our commitment to supporting emerging technologies, and companies big and small that also value a bioscience ecosystem. We are proud to welcome everyone back to Chicago and the Midwest for the 2013 BIO International Convention,” said Illinois Governor Pat Quinn.
For Convention video, photos, and more, please visit http://convention.bio.org/live; for session coverage, please visit http://www.biotech-now.org; and for industry reports released this week, please visit http://www.bio.org.
The BIO International Convention helps support BIO programs and initiatives. BIO works throughout the year to create a policy environment that enables the industry to continue to fulfill its vision of bettering the world through biotechnology innovation.
Upcoming BIO Events
BIO
India International Conference
September 12-13, 2012
Mumbai,
India
Livestock
Biotech Summit
September 19-21, 2012
Kansas City, MO
BIO
Investor Forum
October 9-10, 2012
San Francisco, CA
Pacific
Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy
October
10-12, 2012
Vancouver, BC Canada
The
BIO Convention in China
October 24-25, 2012
Shanghai, China
About BIO
BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world. BIO produces BIOtechNOW, a multiblog platform and monthly newsletter that aims to create an online biotech community where the the industry can connect to discuss the latest news. Subscribe to BIOtechNOW.
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