Post-BIO Efforts Advance; State Attempts To Lure Biotech Conventioneers

The 18,679 people from 61 countries who attended this year's Biotechnology Industry Organization convention in Philadelphia may be gone, but they are not forgotten. State economic development officials are collaborating with industry and university representatives on an extensive follow-up effort that will include mass mailings, invitations to revisit the area and site tours. Dennis Yablonsky, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), noted the June BIO 2005 conference set an attendance record for the international biotechnology trade group and generated $35 million for the local economy.