INDIANAPOLIS and SAN FRANCISCO, June 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Indiana has established itself as a hotbed for life sciences development thanks to efforts like BioCrossroads, Indiana's life sciences initiative, and a rapidly growing pool of venture capital through funds like the $73 million Indiana Future Fund.
To highlight these developments, Burrill & Company and BioCrossroads are hosting a two-day "Indiana Life Sciences Forum," October 23-24, 2006. The event is designed to review the current state-of-the-industry and profile successful venture-backed Indiana life sciences companies that are emerging from the state's major life sciences corporations and research institutions. It will also incorporate a discussion on the current climate of the capital markets. The event will be held at the Westin in downtown Indianapolis.
Burrill & Company is one of six local and national venture capital firms to receive funding from the Indiana Future Fund I, a $73 million fund-of-funds organized in 2003 by BioCrossroads. The Indiana Future Fund has played a significant role in helping to spur the growth and development of Indiana life sciences businesses, raise Indiana's venture capital profile and attract additional venture capital investment into the state.
In addition, Indiana was named one of the nation's top four life sciences leaders in the report, "Growing the Nation's Bioscience Sector: State Bioscience Initiatives 2006," which was released by Battelle Memorial Institute and the Biotechnology Industry Organization in April. This report emphasizes the state's existing wealth of assets in the life sciences industry and reinforces the strategy by BioCrossroads to grow new life sciences businesses from existing assets. In response to these opportunities, Burrill & Company is actively pursuing opportunities in Indiana, which has traditionally been viewed as an "underserved" venture market.
"Indiana is building a critical mass of research capacity and intellectual property, from both its world-class universities and corporate research and development strength," said G. Steven Burrill, CEO, Burrill & Company, one of the presenters at the Forum. "The state's life sciences initiative has served to bring key partners together to encourage business expansion and formation and Burrill & Company is proud to play a role in featuring this growth at the Forum."
Added David Johnson, President and CEO of BioCrossroads, "We are at a very important point in our quest to grow the next generation of life sciences opportunities in the state. This conference plays a part in that effort by spotlighting some of Indiana's most promising life sciences businesses and fostering additional opportunities for collaboration and market development."
The Indiana Life Sciences Forum will feature "Career Opportunities in the Life Sciences," a discussion of the steps that are needed to make the transition from the lab bench to the boardroom, Other sessions will cover the investment strategies of venture capital firms and highlight some of their successful portfolio companies.
For more information on the Indiana Life Sciences Forum and to register please visit: www.burrillandco.com/bio/indiana_meeting.
About Burrill & Company
Founded in 1994, Burrill & Company is a San Francisco-based global leader in life sciences with principal activities in Venture Capital, Merchant Banking and Media. The Media Group focuses on the organization and hosting of life sciences conferences worldwide and the publication of a wide range of industry reports and newsletters. The flagship is Burrill's annual book on the "State of the Industry," which has been an important part of the biotech industry's view of itself over the last 20 years. The 20th Edition is Biotech 2006-Life Sciences: A Changing Prescription. Details: www.burrillandco.com.
About BioCrossroads
BioCrossroads is Indiana's life science initiative, a public-private collaboration that supports the region's research and corporate strengths while encouraging new business development. With government, industry and academic resources aligned to accelerate business growth, the region is fertile ground for investors and entrepreneurs to build new ventures. Learn more at www.biocrossroads.com.
Burrill & CompanyCONTACT: Peter Winter, Director of Communications of Burrill & Company,+1-415-591-5474
