BIO 2006 in Chicago Surpasses Records

Solano EDC along with several other local economic development, biotechnology association (BIOCOM and BAYBIO), and CA Department of Labor collaborated in Team California to fund and staff the California Pavillon during BIO 2006.

April 14, 2006

BIO 2006 in Chicago Surpasses Records

“BIO 2006 was a spectacular success. The convergence of health, food and agriculture, and industrial and environmental biotechnology 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’s President and CEO.

A record-breaking number of business leaders met, negotiated and exchanged ideas this year in the business forum. More than 4,260 people representing 1,476 companies entered the doors of the business forum and participated in a record 11,018 meetings.

The exhibit hall at BIO 2006 was the largest gathering of biotechnology exhibitors in history, encompassing more than 1,700 companies, organizations, and institutions representing every aspect of the biotechnology industry. Within 176,000 net square feet of exhibit space, the exhibit hall housed the cornfield, an Indy Racing League racecar and driver, and exhibitors from 43 states and 36 nations.

Nearly one-third of the attendees were international participants, with more than 1,000 joining us from Canada, and hundreds more from the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia, Japan, and South Korea.

Twelve governors attended BIO 2006 including Host Governor Rod Blagojevich (Ill.), Bob Riley (Ala.), Jeb Bush (Fla.), Mitch Daniels (Ind.), Kathleen Sebelius (Kan.), Ernie Fletcher (Ky.), Mitt Romney (Mass.), Jennifer Granholm (Mich.), Matt Blunt (MO), Bob Taft (Ohio), Anibal Acevedo-Vila (PR), and Jim Doyle (Wis.).

Next year the BIO International Convention will be held in Boston May 6-9, 2007 with the theme of “Science Converges. Business Emerges.”