Patent Baristas

See the biotechnology industry’s global reach next month. The BIO International Convention, hosted by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), will take place June 17-20, 2008 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, Calif. Not a small, intimate affair with attendance at more than 22,000 in 2007, with representatives from 68 countries — international attendance now makes up more than 30% of the attendees. The convention features more than 175 breakout sessions along with over 220,000 square feet of exhibition space.

The 2007 BIO International Convention in Boston saw double-digit percentage growth in attendees from Spain, Malaysia, Canada, German, India, and the United Kingdom. In 2008, more growth is expected from Asia and Latin America. There has also been a significant increase in attendance of international public officials from 45 in 2005 up to 72 during the Boston event. Notable leaders in attendance have included the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, the Deputy Director General of the China State Food and Drug Administration, India’s Director of the Department for Biotechnology, and South Africa’s Minister of Agriculture.

The BIO International Convention features keynotes and sessions from key policymakers, scientists, CEOs, and celebrities including Craig Venter of the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI), Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California and General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.). Past speakers include President George W. Bush, President Bill Clinton, Michael J. Fox, and Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan (I still have a crush on her even though she banished the media from her talk). The convention also includes hundreds of sessions covering biotech trends, policy issues and technological innovations, and the world’s largest biotechnology exhibition – the BIO Exhibition.

The 2008 BIO International Convention will feature leading industry experts and government officials from around the world debating key issues that dramatically influence the biotechnology industry including follow-on biologics/biosimilars, biomarker research, genomics and the ever-changing global biotechnology business landscape. The convention will highlight how biotechnology, the life sciences, investments, policy, and the international community work together to heal, fuel, and feed the world.  Expect to see heavy emphasis on global intellectual property property protections, follow-on biologics/biosimilars, international networking for research and development of neglected diseases and sustainable agriculture.

If you’d like to meet up during the conference, drop me a note and we’ll schedule some time to have coffee together.   It looks like the Securing Innovation guys along with the Patent Docs will be there — maybe there can be an IP blawger get-together on the USS Midway?  Send me your suggestions.

See here for more information on the 2008 BIO International Convention and registration.

Note to regular readers:  Check back next week for details on my BIO2008 daily giveaway.