ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn., March 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota, the business development organization for enriching Minnesota’s future through the biosciences, today announced its board of directors and its plans to build Minnesota into one of the strongest bioscience centers in the world.
“This is a group that is focused on action,” said Dale Wahlstrom, vice president, Cardiac Rhythm Management Ventures, Medtronic, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota. “The work of this organization will result in economic growth and the retention and creation of jobs for the people of Minnesota,” added Wahlstrom. “Today we announce our plans and the members of our board. We will soon expand our organization to include entrepreneurs and businesses of various sizes that are interested in growing biobusiness in Minnesota.”
“Minnesota is a tremendous state to conduct biobusiness,” added Don Gerhardt, president and CEO, Medical Alley/MNBIO, and member of The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota Board of Directors’ Executive Committee. “We have world-renowned resources in academic and research talent, and some of the most successful companies doing business in a cross-section of the industry, including human health and agriculture. Minnesota is uniquely positioned to be a global leader in the not too distant future.”
The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota was formed when Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty asked Wahlstrom and Gerhardt to lead the effort on behalf of the private sector in developing the future of Minnesota’s biosciences efforts.
In May 2003 Governor Pawlenty created the Bioscience Council, which was established to identify issues and opportunities for growing bioscience companies in Minnesota. That group laid the foundation and successfully completed its charge in October 2004 when the Governor asked Wahlstrom and Gerhardt to create a broad-based partnership to lead the future bioscience development efforts in the private sector.
The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota will focus on reaching three objectives in its first year. First, build an action-based alliance and strategy that brings together all related areas of the biosciences in a coordinated effort to ensure the long-term health and success of Minnesota’s bioscience industry. Second, identify and benchmark Minnesota’s strengths and weaknesses of Minnesota’s private, public and academic assets with a statewide assessment to be completed in the fall of 2005. Third, function as an advocate for emerging and established bioscience businesses to facilitate job growth and economic development.
The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota also announced its Board of Directors which includes Doug Cameron, Ph.D., director of biotechnology, BioTDC for Cargill, Inc.; Mark DuVal, J.D., managing partner and vice president of Klepinski & DuVal, PA; Ray Frost, senior vice president, Medical Alley/MNBIO; Gene Goddard, bioscience industry specialist/marketing and business development for Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development; Jennifer Kuzma, Ph.D., associate director for the Center for Science, Technology, and Public Policy, Humphrey Institute; Tim Laske, Ph.D., senior director, product platform research and technology, Medtronic Inc. Cardiac Rhythm Management; Dave Melin, senior director of commercial development, MGI Pharma; Tim Mulcahy, Ph.D., vice president for research at the University of Minnesota; Lynne Osterman, legislative associate, Gray Plant Mooty; J. David Prince, J.D., professor of law, William Mitchell College of Law; Christopher Puto, Ph.D., dean of the College of Business at the University of St. Thomas; Kenneth Stabler, manager, economic development, Xcel Energy, Inc.; Bernhard Van Lengerich, Ph.D., senior technology officer, General Mills; and Eric Wieben, Ph.D., director, genomics research, Mayo Clinic.
The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota is a 501 c (3) not-for-profit organization. For more information about The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota, contact Jeremy Lenz, project executive at 952/542-3077, extension 8.
BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota
CONTACT: Kathleen Crandall of AllOut Marketing, Inc. for BioBusinessAlliance of Minnesota, +1-952-404-0800 ext. 112
