San Diego/New Delhi: The largest global event for the biotechnology industry, Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) 2017 is being held in the San Diego Convention Centre, San Diego from 19th June to 22nd June, 2017. The event each year attracts the biggest names in biotech, offers key networking and partnering opportunities, and provides insights and inspiration on the major trends affecting the industry.
This year the Indian delegation taking part in the BIO 2017, is being led by the Minister of State for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Mr Y S Chowdary. The delegation also includes directors of research institutes, industry leaders and prominent bureaucrats. The India pavilion inaugurated by Mr Chowdary at the Convention on June 21st has been organized by the Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE) on the behalf of Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India. The pavilion witnessed participation of many well-known Indian biotech companies besides the key government agencies.
The Minister also released a 60-page India Biotech Handbook 2017, showcasing the strengths of India’s fast-growing $42 billion Bio-Economy.
The MAKE IN INDIA theme has been emphasized in the Indian Pavilion. Inaugurating the Pavilion, the Minister stated that the positive discussions during BIO will lead to a lot of new opportunities for Indian start-up companies in Science & Technology and will also boost the confidence of international stakeholders in India’s biotech sector. More than 30 start-ups, companies, state governments, biotech parks and research institutes are exhibiting at the India Pavilion.
Earlier as a part of his program, the Minister also visited Jacob School of Engineering, University of California San Diego Campus on 19th June, 2017 to interact with Indian students and the local faculty, many of whom have roots in India.
While welcoming Mr Chowdary, Dr Albert Pisano, Dean, Jacob School of Engineering, University of California San Diego stressed the need of collaboration with India in various fields related to science and technology. Dr Pisano highlighted the high end scientific growth in Indian Academia and stressed the need for growth of technologies such as point of care diagnostics and lab on chip diagnostics for infectious diseases prevalent in the country. He also said that UCSD had its strengths in the area of Stem Cell engineering and emphasized that it could be a potential area of collaboration, besides areas like maternal health and geriatrics.
In his address, Mr Y S Chowdary highlighted various aspects that have been the guiding factor in the advances of research and development and said that the key words are affordability and sustainability as both these had a huge potential in Indian scenario.
Minister mentioned that India need not be dependent on reverse technology based research as the talent is over flowing with original research that is primarily an outcome of the various forms of handholding by the government in promoting research in the country. Mr Chowdary urged the students to be future players for initiating start-ups in the areas of potential growth and informed the audience that the Indian Government had several prestigious schemes like Ramalingaswamy Fellowship; DST Inspire, DBT-Welcome Trust Fellowship and IYBA to name a few among such schemes that facilitate the re-entry of Indian researchers working abroad into India who are desirous of pursuing post-doctoral research in the country. He even stressed that any suggestions shall be welcome to initiate a specific tailor made program for students and researchers who would come up with specific issues.
The event features keynotes and sessions from key policymakers, scientists, CEOs, and celebrities. The Convention also features the BIO Business Forum (One-on-One Partnering), hundreds of sessions covering biotech trends, policy issues and technological innovations, and the world’s largest biotechnology exhibition.
KEY FACT: The first BIO International Convention was held in 1993 and attracted approximately 1,400 attendees.
The BIO International Convention is hosted by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (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 performs many services for members, but none of them are more visible than the BIO International Convention. The BIO International Convention helps BIO fulfill its mission to help grow the global biotech industry. Profits from the BIO International Convention are returned to the biotechnology industry by supporting 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.
The key benefits of attending the BIO International Convention are access to global biotech and pharma leaders besides the partnering, exposure to industry though-leaders with over 1,500 education sessions, 1,500 education sessions, and unparalleled networking opportunities with 16,000+ attendees from 76 countries including India.
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