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.  

The first-ever Breakthrough Symposium sponsored by Aldevron brought together more than 200  individuals and organizations that lead the biotechnology community in gene and cell therapy, gene editing and more at the Hilton Garden Inn, in Fargo, North Dakota, on the 6th through the 8th of November, 2018. And there to greet them on the 5th of November from 4 – 6 pm at the Hilton Garden Inn, were Mr. Bruce Gjovig, Chairman of Bioscience Board; Vice Chairman Dr. Kenneth Hellevang; Secretary Nancy Johnson; Board Member Benjamin Forred, Board Member Kristi Jean and Board Member John Ballantyne along with Executive Director Richard Glynn to introduce them to the advantages of expanding or establishing new Bio-businesses in North Dakota.

The Association furnished hors d'oeuvre and beverages to the registered attendees and guests beginning at 4 pm due in a large part to the sponsorship donations of Sanford Health; the NDSU Office of the VP of Research and Creativity; the UND Office of Research and Economic Development; and the Department of Commerce of the State of North Dakota.  Each attendee was greeted by the officers and members of the Board present. It was explained to them what the Association stood for and a discussion ensued about the many opportunities available at the two research universities and through out the State. At 4:30 pm the Association presented a short program emceed by Chairman Gjovig.

Chairman Gjovig welcomed the participants to the Symposium and described the entrepreneurial environment in North Dakota. He conveyed the message of how that environment contributed not only to the success of Aldevron but to the other 520 entrepreneurial ventures that have raised over $130 million in entrepreneur capital, and created more than 5,000 jobs across North Dakota. Then he “passed the baton” to Aldevron CEO Michael Chambers, who also welcomed and thanked the attendees for being there.

Michael then proceeded to describe the upcoming Symposium as well as his entrepreneurial experience in North Dakota. Basically he explained how John Ballantyne and he started in a small lab in Sudro Hall on the campus of North Dakota State University and now had just completed a 70,000 square foot facility for the manufacturing of DNA plasmid’s and other Bio Products. He invited the attendees to tour their new facilities. With that he concluded his remarks and Mr. Gjovig called upon Mr. Ben Forred of Sanford Research to speak on the Sanford experience in North Dakota.

Benjamin Forred is the Project Manager of Translational Research for Sanford Research a part of Sanford Health. Ben’s role is in building and strengthening business relationships between the research scientists and physicians at Sanford Health and external groups in industry and academia. Additionally, he helps facilitate new research relationships between non-profit advocacy organizations, researchers, pharma, and Sanford’s rare disease registry team. He is looking forward to strengthening relationships with the faculty and graduate students of the two research universities as well as other “bio businesses” in North Dakota. Upon conclusion of Benjamin’s address, Chairman Gjovig introduced Dr. Jane Schuh, Vice President of Research and Creative Activities at North Dakota State University,
Dr. Schuh spoke about the facilities and services available at North Dakota State University for research and development. She also spoke off faculty projects on going at the University as well as welcoming any new research projects or collaborations that might come about. According to Dr. Schuh, NDSU is interested in collaborating with any company that has an interest in conducting research in areas of interest to the University. All they have to do is contact her and she would be more than happy to visit with them about their proposed project and see if there are any synergies with any University project or faculty or graduate student project.

Following Dr. Schuh’s presentation, Chairman Gjovig introduced Dr. Eric Murphy, Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dr. Murphy is not only a faculty member of UND but he is also the CEO and CSO of Krampade, a company engaged in producing a formulation containing a form of potassium that is quickly absorbed when it is consumed in order to  prevent the onset of chronic cramping and when cramps do occur, quickly resolves acute cramping. Dr. Murphy has moved his company from Lincoln, Nebraska, to Grand Forks, ND.  He spoke on the facilities available in North Dakota, and the incentives that he has received. It was his opinion that North Dakota had the best business climate available. With that, The Presentation concluded and the “Welcome Reception” went into full swing!

Manning the Associations “booth” were Secretary Nancy Johnson and Chairman Bruce Gjovig. Located on the table were brochures from the State of North Dakota, the Bank of North Dakota, NDSU, UND and Sanford Health. Each attendee that visited the booth, received a “transparent” logo’d bag, containing a writing pad, a pen with BIOND logo, and brochures of their choosing. In return they furnished a card with their name, company name, address, telephone number, e-mail address and website.

All in all it was a highly successful night! The Association made many new contacts that have an interest in expanding or establishing facilities in North Dakota. In addition, one of the most successful entrepreneurial companies in North Dakota was recognized and given the credit they deserved. In fact it was so successful; a request was made that if another Symposium was initiated, that once again the Bioscience Association of North Dakota sponsors the “Welcome Reception”!

The North Dakota IDEA Network of Bio Medical Research Excellence (ND INBRE) and the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences conference was held at the Alerus Center at Grand Forks, October 20, 2016. This was the bringing together of students and faculty from North Dakota's research universities, baccalaureate institutions, and tribal colleges within the state for the purpose of displaying research projects and posters showing the work done by students at these institutions. Your Bio Science Association was there recruiting these future leaders of the Biotech industry. 

The world's top agricultural bioscience conference made its first USA appearance, on September 18-21, in one of the richest agricultural regions of the world, Fargo North Dakota. Private sector scientists, independent researchers and others who are applying the practical use of science to impact health and nutrition making a difference in feeding the world were present at this conference.

There to greet and inform them were representatives of the Bioscience Association of North Dakota, Richard and Pauline Glynn in a booth space provided through the good auspices of the North Dakota Department of Commerce. The representatives furnished information on the resources available to companies if they were to move their operations or research to North Dakota