The 2015 BIO International Convention Closes in Philadelphia - Event Sets New Record for Partnering Meetings
BIO 2015 Sets Record - 29,279 Partnering Meetings in Philadelphia
Biotechnology Industry Organization to Become Biotechnology Innovation Organization in Early 2016
15,858 Industry Leaders Attended World's Largest Biotech Gathering
Philadelphia, PA (June 18, 2015) – The 2015 BIO International Convention, where the global biotech community meets, connecting the people, companies and innovations that help to fulfill the promise of biotechnology through healing, fueling, and feeding the world, concluded today at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. This year’s Convention hosted 29,279 partnering meetings, a new record for the event. Organized by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the event drew 15,858 industry leaders from 69 countries and 47 states, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
“This year’s BIO International Convention was a tremendous success, bringing to Philadelphia leaders in industry, government and academia from across the globe to pursue biotechnology’s potential to solve some of society’s most pressing problems,” said BIO President & CEO Jim Greenwood. “From our outstanding keynote speakers, to the record number of partnering meetings, the 2015 Convention was a resounding success. This event continues to provide biotech leaders with the opportunity to showcase the best of our industry and form connections and partnerships that will drive growth in the sector for years to come.”
BIO’s new Board Chair, Ron Cohen, CEO of Acorda Therapeutics, announced during Wednesday afternoon’s Keynote Luncheon that the Biotechnology Industry Organization would soon become the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, effective in early 2016.
The Convention featured dynamic keynotes from legendary journalist Tom Brokaw, leading digital health expert Eric Topol and internationally acclaimed jazz musician Wynton Marsalis. Educational programming included over 750 speakers and 125 sessions in 16 educational tracks which addressed the latest business opportunities, breakthroughs in medicine, diagnostics, the environment, energy production, food and agriculture and more. For session highlights and editorial, visit www.biotech-now.org/.
The top 15 largest international delegations included (in alphabetical order): Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.
Several U.S. Governors attended this year’s event including Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, Delaware Governor Jack Markell, and South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard. New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno was also in attendance as well as numerous legislators from around the country.
The BIO Business Forum hosted a record-breaking 29,279 scheduled one-on-one partnering meetings between more than 3,100 companies, and featured 207 company presentations. View highlights here.
The BIO Exhibition featured more than 1,800 exhibitors and covered over 150,000 square feet with 47 state, regional and international pavilions. The Innovation Zone, featuring SBIR grantees from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), as well as the Digital Health Zone, both doubled in size this year.
BIO would like to thank Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf for their hospitality and support leading up to and during the 2015 BIO International Convention. BIO also thanks our regional partners: BioNJ, the Delaware BioScience Association and Pennsylvania Bio.
“With the support of BioNJ, the Delaware BioScience Association and Pennsylvania Bio, our tri-state region was able to make this year's BIO 2015 convention in Philadelphia a tremendous success,” said Jack Ferguson, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau President & CEO. “We were grateful for the opportunity to showcase our wonderful Pennsylvania Convention Center, the hotels and hospitality offerings of our city and our region's life sciences assets, and we hope BIO comes back again in the near future.”
For BIO 2015 video, photos, and more, visit convention.bio.org.
The 2016 BIO International Convention will take place June 6-9, 2016 in San Francisco, California at the Moscone Center. The 2017 BIO International Convention will take place June 19-22, 2017 in San Diego, California at the San Diego Convention Center. The 2018 BIO International Convention will take place June 4-7, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.
“I would like to thank the Philadelphia Convention & Visitor's Bureau and the Pennsylvania Convention Center for their leadership and assistance in making the 2015 BIO International Convention such a resounding success,” said Scott Whitaker, President of the BIO International Convention. “The 2015 BIO International Convention may be wrapping-up, but I know the entire biotech community is excited to be back in San Francisco in 2016, where we expect another great BIO Convention.”
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
World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology
July 19-22, 2015
Montréal, Canada
BIO Latin America Conference
October 14-16, 2015
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
BIO Investor Forum
October 20-21, 2015
San Francisco, CA
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