BIO Washington 2011

From 27 to 30 June 2011
Organized by: Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)
Venue: Walter Washington Center
Booth Biocat: 3237 (Hall B)
http://convention.bio.org/

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Catalogue Catalan Pavillion BIO

Catalan reception (28th June)

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Press room

Catalan delegation to BIO Washington 2011, the world’s top convention for the biotechnology sector

27 to 30 June 2011 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center (United States)

The world’s most important convention for the biotechnology sector was held this year from 27 to 30 June in Washington DC, the capital of the USA and a major life sciences hub that has grown considerably over the past few years.


Vídeo TN Migdia de TV3, 29/6/2011	Vídeo TN Vespre de TV3, 29/6/2011

This year’s location for the BIO International Convention offers major advantages both in terms of the biotech and pharma areas as well as politically. The Greater Washington area, which also encompasses the states of Virginia and Maryland, boasts one of the highest rates of venture capital investment in the United States and has witnessed major growth in biotechnology companies. This is mainly due to specific funding for start-ups, a second-to-none R&D base, and one of the highest levels of academic funding in the United States according to data from the National Science Foundation (2008). For example, Virginia has roughly 200 companies in this sector, 90 of which are biotech firms.

For the fifth consecutive year, Biocat coordinated Catalan participation at BIO. The 42 companies (27 with their own stand) and 17 research institutions that made up the Catalan delegation were located together in the BioRegion of Catalonia pavilion, which once again accounted for 50% of all participation from Spain.

The Catalan companies that participated in this event are mainly biotech firms, although there were also some pharmaceutical, medical technology and sector-support companies. Their common aim was clear: to attend the principal international biotech and pharma convention. And the fact that the Catalan contributions were coordinated as a single delegation, by ICEX, Genoma España and Biocat, offered these participants numerous economic and organizational benefits.

BIO in figures:

More than 60 pavilions and 1,700 companies
More than 15,000 professionals from 49 states and 65 countries
More than 17,000 partnering meetings, the highest number to date
More than 125 sessions organized in 14 tracks, 1,000 speakers, 5 plenary sessions (which included yearly reports from Ernst&Young, Burrill and Worldview 2011) and two keynote luncheons (one with Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom)

The International Case Studies track included a session entitled Spain’s R&D Facilities, the Driving Force of an Innovation System, which featured Biocat CEO Montserrat Vendrell (29 June).

Catalan companies and institutions at BIO 2011

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