Executive Director Attends 2018 Bio International Convention

The Bio Innovation Organization held its Bio International Convention in the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, a 516,000 square foot building located in Seaport District of Boston, MA, June 4 through the 8th under the theme “Make History” . This was a special convention because it marked Bio’s 25th Anniversary celebrating innovations that have shaped the past 25 years and recognizing the companies, patient groups, academic centers and investors that continue to advance novel solutions to the world’s toughest challenges.

The Convention drew 18,289 biotechnology industry leaders – the most attendees in the last 10 years – from 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 67 countries. BIO 2018 also included over 1,800 exhibitors, more than a thousand speakers, 180 sessions, 17 plus super sessions and fireside chats and 19 education tracks. Special programming, such as the Start-Up Stadium, also provided a forum for up and coming companies to receive invaluable advice to accelerate their growth and potential. BIO 2018 hosted 46,916 partnering meetings, setting a Guinness World Record for “The Largest Business Partnering Event,” facilitated by BIO’s One-on-One Partnering™ system — a 13% increase over 2017. These invaluable connections form the foundation of innovative industry collaborations and scientific breakthroughs.
Attending this convention was North Dakota Bio’s own Aldevron, a major Bio Tech Company offering catalog items for DNA, protein, antibody and Cas9 research projects whose sales, manufacturing and home offices are located in Fargo North Dakota.

Pictured here is the Aldevron booth located on the Convention Floor being manned by Susanna Carpenter, who is pictured in the photo at left. A number of Aldevron executives were present at the convention, including CEO Michael Chambers; Henry Hebel, COO; Marc Wolff, CFO;
Brian Walters, CBO; Tom Foti, VP, General Manager Madison; James Brown, VP Corporate Development; Tom Lynch, VP Sales and Client Development; Xuan Li, Client Relations Manager – Boston, Andrew Olsen, Marketing Coordinator and Michael Jablon, Director. Aldevron attends the convention every year where they network with other companies and industry leaders seeking to learn of new advancements as well as new business opportunities. Taking time from their own networking and sales activities, these gentlemen found time to facilitate a number of meetings between Executive Director Glynn and innovators, entrepreneurs and collaborative companies attending the convention who might have an interest in doing business in North Dakota.

Mr. Michael Chambers, CEO of Aldevron, and Mr. Michael Jablon, Director, were especiallyHelpful to the Executive Director by identifying potential companies who might be interested in relocating or doing business in North Dakota and making introductions to the officers of those companies.

Pictured above are three of the many State Pavilions exhibiting at the Convention. Their function was to inform delegates to the Convention of what was available in that State to facilitate the research and development goals of companies who might choose to relocate their operations to that State.
The State of New York, advertised that they were No. 2 in the Nation for Bioscience Research and Development expenditures. That they have spent $620 Million Dollars in Investment in Growing Life sciences, a $100 million of which is for their Innovation Venture Capital Fund for Seed and Early Growth Investments. This is North Dakota’s competition. And remember, they are number two in the U.S. for Biosciences R&D expenditures.  Massachusetts Bio is number 1 with 1.7 Billion dollars in 2016-2017.

While there, Executive Director Glynn visited with Ms. Grace Applebe,  a Member of Bio’s Public Affairs Team. Ms. Applebe helped Director Glynn set up his partnering One-on-One Sessions where Director Glynn met with 18 companies, venture capital firms, and possible collaborators, as well as direct him to at least 75 exhibitors that might have an interest in collaborating with or moving operations to North Dakota.  In fact Director Glynn was able to visit with President and CEO, Jennifer Bath, of ImmunoPrecise Antibodies, LTD, a Canadian firm, who was moving their U.S. corporate offices to Fargo. After his presentation it was determined that ImmunoPrecise would join the Association.    
All in all the Convention was a huge success not only for Bio Innovation International but for the North Dakota Bio Science Association. The Executive Director was able to network with 75 + companies, entrepreneurs, innovators and possible collaborators
He is looking forward to the Bio International Conference in Philadelphia next year.  

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