The BIO International Convention Kicks Off Four Days Of Breakthrough Programming In San Diego

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The 2017 BIO International Convention (BIO 2017), the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, today kicked off four days of inspiring keynotes with world luminaries, dynamic fireside chats with industry leaders and compelling educational programming united under the theme of “Breakthrough.”

Hosted by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), BIO 2017 this year returns to the San Diego Convention Center, where 16,000 biotechnology industry leaders from 48 states and 76 countries will gather to examine the insights, challenges and opportunities surrounding the next generation of biotechnology innovations.

BIO 2017 will feature 1,800 exhibitors and will likely include 40,000 partnering meetings facilitated through BIO’s One-on-One Partnering™ system.

Convention Highlights Include:

• Keynote: David Cameron, Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
  Tuesday, June 20
  David Cameron will be interviewed by BIO President & CEO Jim Greenwood for a worldly discussion on the rapidly changing political landscape both in the United States and abroad. BIO will also recognize BioGENEius student award winners and introduce BIO’s new Board Chair, John Maraganore, Ph.D.
  9:00 – 10:30 a.m. | Ballroom 20, Upper Level
  • PLEASE NOTE: Keynotes are open to Convention Access and Partnering Attendees. Seating is first-come, first-served.
• Keynote: Ann Romney, Wife of Mitt Romney, Patient Advocate and Best-Selling Author
  Wednesday, June 21
  Ann Romney will take the stage to discuss her experience living with Multiple Sclerosis and share personal stories of trials and tribulations as a patient. With remarkable stories and insights that will touch all audiences, her valued perspective on her life in and out of the political spotlight is engaging and informative. BIO President & CEO, Jim Greenwood, will also give his annual “State of the Biotechnology Industry” address, discussing the latest challenges, opportunities and breakthroughs facing the biotechnology industry.
  9:00 – 10:30 a.m. | Ballroom 20, Upper Level
  • PLEASE NOTE: Keynotes are open to Convention Access and Partnering Attendees. Seating is first-come, first-served.
• Fireside Chat: David Hung, MD, Chief Executive Officer, Axovant Sciences
  Tuesday, June 20
  Join us for a fireside chat with David T. Hung, MD, Chief Executive Officer at Axovant Sciences. Dr. Hung has served as the Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Board since April 2017.
  11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Room 6A, Upper Level
• Fireside Chat: Francis deSouza, President & CEO, Illumina
  Wednesday, June 21
  Join us for a fireside chat with Francis deSouza, President & CEO of Illumina. Francis deSouza was appointed President & CEO of Illumina in 2016 and is responsible for directing all aspects of company strategy, planning and operations. He initially joined the company as President in 2013 and led Illumina’s business units and core functions responsible for envisioning, developing and producing the company’s products.
  11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Room 5B, Upper Level
• Fireside Chat: Kathleen “Kate” Rubins, PhD, Astronaut, NASA
  Wednesday, June 21
  Join us for a fireside chat with Kate Rubins, NASA Astronaut. Kate was selected by NASA in 2009 and completed her first spaceflight on Expedition 48/49, where she became the first person to sequence DNA in space. She spent 115 days in space and conducted two spacewalks.
  1:45 – 2:45 p.m. | Room 5B, Upper Level

Monday Highlights Include:

• Press Conference: Synthetic Biology Breaks New Ground
  The promise of synthetic biology is on full display. Synthetic Genomics, Inc. and ExxonMobil will discuss scientific breakthroughs – soon to be published in a major peer reviewed journal – for developing a “fat and fit” algae strain with high oil production and rapid growth for the production of a renewable, low-emission alternative to legacy fossil fuel. This program represents a key area of research in ExxonMobil’s broader advanced biofuels and sustainable energy research portfolio.
  10:00 – 11:00 a.m. | Press Conference Room 32B, Upper Level
• Press Conference: Cracking the Code: the Economic Impact of San Diego’s Genomics Industry
  Personalized medicine and technology are shaping the future of healthcare as we know it, with San Diego’s genomics companies, research institutions and universities at the forefront. Quantifying this impact, San Diego Regional EDC will release the first-ever study on the San Diego region’s genomics industry. “Cracking the Code: the Economic Impact of San Diego’s Genomics Industry” includes a comparative analysis of the top ten U.S. metros for life sciences, as well as an assessment of local firms, jobs, venture capital and much more. Behind the data is a story of how this once nascent sequencing technology is now shaping the future of global medicine and discovery, but also how it has altered the DNA of the entire San Diego region.
  12:00 – 12:30 p.m. | Press Conference Room 32B, Upper Level
• Fireside Chat: Brent Saunders, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Allergan plc
  Join us for a fireside chat with Brent Saunders, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer at Allergan plc. Mr. Saunders has significant healthcare industry expertise and a proven track-record leading business transformations and integrations.
  2:00 – 2:45 p.m. | Room 5B, Upper Level
• Super Session: So Many Choices: What’s the Right Biomanufacturing Strategy for Me?
  When a biologics company is preparing to launch a new product, the decision-making process can be daunting. Join us as we review the formidable challenges and decisions facing biopharma manufacturing executives. With business strategies and decision-making processes varying significantly from one biopharma to the next, our panel of industry experts will share their unique insights and perspectives and demonstrate how there is really no one-size-fits-all solution in biomanufacturing, regardless of company size.
  2:30 – 3:45 p.m. | Room 6B, Upper Level
• Fireside Chat: Lloyd Minor, MD, Dean, Stanford University School of Medicine
  Join us for a one-on-one conversation with Dean Lloyd Minor, MD, a scientist, surgeon and academic leader. He is the Carl and Elizabeth Naumann Dean of the Stanford University School of Medicine, and a professor of otolaryngology–head and neck surgery, bioengineering and neurobiology, by courtesy, at Stanford University. As dean, Minor plays an integral role in setting strategy for the clinical enterprise of Stanford Medicine, which includes Stanford Health Care and Stanford Children's Health. Under his leadership, Stanford Medicine has established a strategic vision to lead the biomedical revolution in precision health.
  3:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Room 5B, Upper Level
• Press Conference: Freedom from Cancer Startup Challenge Launch
  The Center for Advancing Innovations will announce the Launch of the Freedom from Cancer Startup Challenge.
  3:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Press Conference Room 32B, Upper Level
• Media Event: BIO Ventures for Global Health (BVGH)
  Join BIO President and CEO, Jim Greenwood, and other notable speakers at the Africa Pavilion Media Event. Learn about the importance of the African market for the biotech industry and promising partnership opportunities. Hear from Africa Pavilion exhibitors about innovations coming out of the region, as well as prominent stakeholders, including Dr. Verna Vanderpuye from AORTIC, Dr. Philippe Cupers from the European Commission and others. BIO Ventures for Global Health (BVGH) will also be announcing their newest program that targets the emerging cancer crisis on the African continent: the African Access Initiative (AAI). AAI will officially be launched at the 2017 BIO Convention. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to hear from industry leaders and "visit" 24 African countries.
  3:30 – 4:30 p.m. | Booth 243

Follow the 2017 Convention @BIOConvention, and join the conversation and @IAmBIOtech.

Media registration is open on Monday from 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and on Tuesday from 6:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the San Diego Convention Center. The majority of attendees, 70 percent, are c-level executives. They split evenly from large companies of 500 or more employees and small companies of 50 employees or less.

The BIO International Convention is the largest global event for the biotechnology industry and attracts the biggest names in biotech, offers key networking and partnering opportunities, and provides insights and inspiration on major trends affecting the industry. The Convention will highlight the latest trends and the newest opportunities for executives, investors, scientists, policy leaders, and media from around the world. Speakers at the sessions will share breakthroughs in medicine, diagnostics, the environment, energy production, business operations, financing, partnerships, policy issues and food and agriculture. Visit http://convention.bio.org/ for the most up-to-date program and speaker information.

About BIO

BIO is the world's largest trade association representing biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world. BIOtechNOW is BIO's blog chronicling “innovations transforming our world” and the BIO Newsletter is the organization’s bi-weekly email newsletter. Subscribe to the BIO Newsletter.

Upcoming BIO Events

BIO World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology
Montréal, Canada
July 23-26, 2017

BIO Patient and Health Advocacy Summit
The Mayflower Hotel, Washington, DC
October 2-3, 2017

BIO Investor Forum
San Francisco
October 17-18, 2017