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Georgia welcomes 2009 BIO International Convention to Atlanta

Monday, May 18, 2009  Contact: Office of Communications 404-651-7774

ATLANTA — Governor Sonny Perdue today welcomed the 2009 BIO International Convention to Atlanta.  2009 BIO takes place May 18 through May 21 and is expected to draw up to 15,000 industry professionals in the biosciences, one of Georgia’s fastest-growing industries.

“Bioscience is one of Georgia’s strategic industries, and hosting the 2009 BIO International Convention is an unparalleled opportunity for the state and our many partners,” said Governor Perdue. “Georgia’s bioscience resources embody the convention theme, ‘Heal, Fuel, Feed the World,’ and the executives who come to Georgia will get a first-hand look at our state’s strong industry assets, including our global reach, vast reserves of talent and our commitment to collaboration.”

This year marks the first time a Southeastern U.S. city has hosted the BIO International Convention, one of the most significant business conferences in the world. About 70 percent of the attendees are C-level executives, and one-third of the registrants are international. Sixty countries and 48 states will be represented at the convention. In addition to a business forum, exhibition hall, and full schedule of educational programming, BIO activities include a diversity summit, career fair, entrepreneurship bootcamp, conference on biotechnology education, translational research forum and leadership summit.

The biosciences industry is one of the bright lights in Georgia’s economy. It had a significant economic impact in Georgia in 2007, according to the “Shaping Infinity” report released recently by the University of Georgia and Georgia BIO:

  • 17,941 jobs in life sciences companies
  • 62,033 jobs in all industries (including life sciences)
  • $16 billion in output
  • $6.2 billion in state GDP
  • $3.6 billion in labor income
  • $517 million in tax revenues for state and local governments.

 

In addition, life sciences research at the state’s colleges and universities generated $1.3 billion in output and nearly 15,000 jobs in fiscal year 2006.

“The bioscience industry is important to Georgia because it creates high-wage jobs and clean-tech economies and is a leading driver of innovation,” said Ken Stewart, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “As part of our long-running strategic drive to build our reputation as a major hub for the biosciences, we will take full advantage of the opportunity to showcase our great strengths to the most important audience in the industry.”

As host of the convention, Georgia has a tremendous opportunity to brand the state as a biotech hub and grants state leaders access to industry decision-makers. The state is hosting 32 Georgia universities, companies and agencies in a 5,400-square-foot in its exhibit hall booth (see list at end of release). Activities at the Georgia Pavilion will include business meetings, press conferences and demonstrations of iResearchGeorgia, a newly-launched online database of published papers, patents, faculty profiles and grants associated with Georgia’s universities. In addition, the pavilion will feature a Coca-Cola fountain, exhibitor give-aways and a drawing for a new KIA Soul on May 20 at 3 p.m.

The state has a strong presence elsewhere at the conference as well. Governor Perdue will receive the “BIO Governor of the Year” award from BIO president Jim Greenwood at the keynote luncheon, which features part-time Atlantan Sir Elton John of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. More than 30 bioscience business leaders and scientists from Georgia will participate in sessions and panels throughout the conference. These sessions will include the most pressing issues of the biotechnology industry, including workforce development, climate change and biofuels and healthcare access.

In addition, Johnny Fells, a senior from Northside High School in Warner Robins, is a finalist in the sanofi-aventis International BioGENEius Challenge, a competition for high school students who demonstrate an exemplary understanding of biotechnology through science research projects.

The Georgia Department of Economic Development has led a multi-year marketing campaign to build awareness of and investment in Georgia’s bioscience industry, targeted for growth in 2004 by the Commission for a New Georgia. Governor Perdue attended the 2008 BIO convention in San Diego and the state has participated in numerous bioscience industry-related conferences and has hosted international business and media delegations focused on the life sciences. Hosting the conference in Atlanta opens the door for the city’s possible inclusion in the BIO conference’s regular rotation of host cities.

About Georgia’s Bioscience Industry

With strong talent, a spirit of collaboration and access to the world, Georgia is at the crossroads of global health.  Georgia is home to the CDC, CARE, the American Cancer Society, the Arthritis Foundation and more than 300 bioscience companies. The state offers robust public-private partnerships in bioscience, including the Georgia Research Alliance, through which the State’s six research universities collaborate to create, improve and grow science- and technology-based companies.  Additionally, Georgia boasts a strong talent pool, with the nation’s highest growth in market share of college-educated 25-to-34 year-olds and one of the largest state university systems in the country, graduating 44,000 students each year.  For more information on Georgia’s bioscience industry and its presence at BIO 2009, visit www.georgiabiosciences.com.

 

Exhibiting partners at the Georgia Pavilion:

Georgiacompanies

Agencies & organizations in Georgia

Georgiaresearch institutions

·         Abeome Corporation

·         Aderans Research   Institute,  Inc.

·         Altea Therapeutics Corporation

·         CryoLife, Inc

·         GeoVax Labs, Inc.

·         Kemira Chemical

·         Optima Chemical Group, LLC

·         Sciele Pharma, Inc.

·         Shionogi & Co., Ltd.

·         St. Joseph's Translational    Research Institute: SJTRI

·         UCB, Inc.

·         United Parcel Service

·         Zirus, Inc.

·         Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB)

·         Atlanta Development Authority (ADA)

·         Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

·         Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Foundation

·         Georgia Bio (GaBio)

·         Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD)

·         Georgia Innovation Crescent

·         Georgia Quick Start

·         Georgia Research Alliance Venture Lab

·         Georgia Work Ready

·         Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce

·         National Health Museum

 

·         Emory University

·         Georgia Institute of Technology

·         Georgia State University

·         Medical College of Georgia

·         Morehouse School of Medicine

·         University of Georgia

·         Yerkes National Primate Research Center

 

 

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