City to Showcase Pharmaceutical, Agribusiness Industries at BIO 2010
For more information, contact:
Mayor’s Press Office
312/744-3334
Meghan Risch
CCTB
312/567-8540
Mayor Richard M. Daley and Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich announced today that the Biotechnology Industry Organization has selected Chicago for its 18th annual convention in the year 2010.
The convention, known as BIO 2010, will attract scientists, investors and business leaders in the life sciences from around the world to the Midwest. It will be the second time the convention has been held in Chicago. The first was at McCormick Place in April 2006.
“Having Chicago selected again to host BIO 2010 demonstrates a great vote of confidence for our region as a major player in the biotech industry,” said Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. “We look forward to welcoming BIO back to Chicago and Illinois to showcase the depth and breadth of biotechnology in the Midwest to the international leaders of the industry.”
“Scientists are using biotechnology to try and find solutions to everything from cancer and Alzheimer’s to safer food for our children. This research is cleaning our air and fighting crime. We are also putting science to work in Illinois by taking discoveries and turning them into new companies, marketable products and high-paying, high-tech Illinois jobs. Our state has been recognized as a national leader in this emerging science, and BIO 2006 is going to help us achieve things we haven’t even thought of yet. Bringing BIO 2010 back to Chicago is going to make an even greater impact as biotech continues expanding in companies, laboratories and universities across Illinois,” Gov. Blagojevich said.
During BIO 2006, the Chicago area was able to showcase itself as a national leader in pharmaceuticals and agribusiness – the two areas where most of the major advances in biotechnology are taking place.
“Chicago’s assets in the biotechnology field include some of the world’s greatest research universities and institutes that are doing groundbreaking work in the life sciences,” said Daley. “We also have an outstanding, well-educated workforce of more than 8,000 life scientists and physical scientists, more than 40,000 engineers and more than 100,000 computer scientists and technicians.”
The Biotechnology Industry Organization reported that BIO 2006 in Chicago surpassed previous conference records. According to the organization, more than 4,260 people representing 1,476 companies participated.
Exhibitors represented 43 states in the U.S. and 36 nations including Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia, Japan, and South Korea.
The conference also generated nearly $28 million dollars into the city’s local economy.
“The convergence of health, food and agriculture, and industrial and environmental biotechnology in the Midwest created a fantastic opportunity for the biotech industry to show the many ways it is innovating to cure and prevent disease, alleviate hunger, and improve the environment,” said Jim Greenwood, BIO President and CEO. “We appreciate the support of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and his colleagues in the Midwestern Governors’ Association as well as Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, iBIO, and our other state affiliates in the Midwest in ensuring the overwhelming success of BIO 2006 and in pledging to make BIO 2010 even greater.”
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