Mid-Atlantic Venture Association Release: Stage Is Set For Inaugural Mid-Atlantic Bio Conference
TIMONIUM, Md., Nov. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association (MAVA), the Virginia Biotechnology Association (VaBIO), the BioAlliance of the Technology Council of Maryland and MdBio announced details regarding their previously announced jointly-hosted regional collaborative event for the bioscience industry and investor community, 2005 Mid-Atlantic Bio: The Conference for Industry & Investors. The Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center in Washington D.C. has been chosen as the venue for the 2-day event taking place October 26 and 27, 2005. The event will combine components of an investor conference and regional industry convention all under one roof.
The announcement comes on the heels of the partnership previously unveiled at the National Academy of Sciences in October that included the announcement that VaBIO and the Technology Council of Maryland will suspend their 2005 meetings to participate in this broader regional coalition. The planning for this initiative has benefited from broad regional support, including life science investors, the greater business community, and the regional associations who have agreed to suspend their respective events to co-host a single, regionally supported effort. This conference is designed to provide the platform for broad regional alliances with the many regional industry and state organizations sharing a vested interest in the long-term success and growth of bio and life sciences advancement in our region.
The four above named organizations have come together to create a premiere forum for serving this industry within the mid-Atlantic and to bring together investment capital with some of the best science and business expertise. The hope is to create a broader collaborative initiative that reflects the richness of our region, while also providing a central forum for the involvement of regional strategic organizations that share the commitment for assuring the long-term success and growth of bio and life sciences community in the mid-Atlantic region.
"Investors world-wide are constantly looking for viable investment opportunities and the cumulative resources and opportunities of our mid- Atlantic region are a powerful attraction for investment capital to interface with emerging companies," said Julia Spicer, Executive Director of the Mid- Atlantic Venture Association. "Through this broad team effort with our industry partners, we hope to provide a valuable resource to both the entrepreneur and investor."
"This is the first time two state biotech associations have joined forces with the venture capital community to maximize the value of regional cooperation," said Mark Herzog, Executive Director of the Virginia Biotechnology Association. "Maryland and Virginia have certainly made contributions to the growth of this industry sector, but we will all collectively benefit even more by the strength of our united region."
"The partner organizations all believe strongly that this event will serve as a tangible reminder that good business and cutting-edge science transcend geographical boundaries," said Bob Eaton, President of MdBio, Inc. "For bioscience executives and the investor community in the mid-Atlantic, it should be the first event marked on their October 2005 calendars."
"The mid-Atlantic region's life sciences community will derive great benefit from a collaborative event of this nature," noted Edward M. Rudnic, Chairman and CEO of Advancis Pharmaceutical Corp. and Chair of Technology Council of Maryland's BioAlliance Network. "Bringing together the region's prominent life sciences membership organizations with an investor component will only serve to strengthen the region and the business climate for our industry."
About MAVA
Founded in 1986, MAVA represents the collective interests of venture capitalists investing in the mid-Atlantic, including 375 venture capital professionals at 126 firms, with more than $10 Billion in capital under management. For more information, please visit http://www.mava.org/
About VaBIO
VaBIO, the Virginia Biotechnology Association, is the 200-member statewide trade group that promotes the considerable scientific and economic impact of the life sciences industry in the Commonwealth of Virginia. For more information, visit http://www.vabio.org/
About the BioAlliance of Technology Council of Maryland
The Technology Council of Maryland, now in its 18th year, is a non-profit membership consortium open to high technology firms, government laboratories, higher education institutions and business support firms that collectively form Maryland's technology community. For more information on the Council, visit http://www.mdhitech.org/
About MdBio
MdBio, Inc. is a private, non-profit corporation whose mission is to advance the commercial development of bioscience in Maryland. For more information, please visit http://www.mdbio.org/
Mid-Atlantic Venture AssociationCONTACT: Stacey Sweeney of Mid-Atlantic Venture Association,+1-703-281-2254 or +1-571-228-2249, Stacey@StaceySweeney.com