BIO Announces Washington Governor Jay Inslee as Keynote Speaker for the BIO Convention in China
Washington, D.C. (October 14, 2013) - The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) is pleased to announce that Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee will provide a keynote address at the 3rd annual BIO® Convention in China to be held November 11-13, 2013 in Beijing. The event will bring together a global audience of biotechnology executives, pharmaceutical companies and investment firms to meet and explore business opportunities within China’s emerging biotech sector. Gov. Inslee’s plenary keynote address will take place on Tuesday, November 12.
“We are thrilled that Governor Inslee will be joining us in China this year. The governor has been tireless in his efforts to foster Washington’s biotech and life sciences sector,” said Joseph Damond, senior vice president of international affairs at BIO. “During his time in the US House of Representatives, Governor Inslee was chosen as BIO’s Legislator of the Year for his efforts to create an approval pathway for biosimilars. His perspective will be invaluable as China seeks to grow its biologics and biosimilars industry.”
“China is a rapidly growing market for America’s innovative biotechnology companies, including those in Washington State,” said Washington Gov. Jay Inslee. “As this market continues to expand, it will be increasingly important to develop collaborative relationships with the Chinese government, companies, and academic institutions. The BIO Convention is China is a wonderful venue to build those relationships, and I am very glad to be able to attend this year.”
Gov. Jay Inslee first became involved in public service in 1985 when he and his wife Trudi helped lead the effort to build a new public high school in Selah, Washington. Motivated to fight against proposed funding cuts for rural schools, he went on to represent the 14th Legislative District in the state House of Representatives. He continued serving communities in the Yakima Valley when he was elected to Congress in 1992. The Inslees later moved back to the Puget Sound area where Jay was elected to Congress in 1998, serving until 2012. During his time in Congress, he became known as a forward-thinking leader, especially on issues of clean energy and the environment. As governor, Jay's top priority is growing Washington's innovative industries such as clean energy, IT and life sciences, and strengthening existing industries such as aerospace, agriculture, maritime and military.
The 3rd annual BIO Convention in China will feature workshops including science-focused sessions such as vaccines, unmet medical needs and the research and development of orphan drugs to treat rare diseases in China. Business-focused sessions will explore China’s private health care industry, early-stage VC funding in China, and partnering models between Chinese and Western companies. Convention programming and exhibition will take place November 12-13, 2013.
BIO brings to China more than 17 years of experience in organizing international conferences for the biotech industry, including the BIO International Convention, the world’s largest annual biotech conference. BIO is renowned for its successful business development, partnering and investor meetings in North America, Europe and Asia. Partnering at this conference will be powered by BIO One-on-One Partnering™, an interactive environment to intelligently search, contact and schedule private meetings with potential partners and investors.
Upcoming BIO Events
BIO IPCC Conference
November 6-8, 2013
Washington, DC
BIO Convention in China
November 11-13, 2013
Beijing, China
Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology & Bioenergy
December 8-11, 2013
San Diego, CA
BIO CEO & Investor Conference
February 10 – 11, 2014
New York, NY
BIO Asia International Conference
April 8-9, 2014
Tokyo, Japan
World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology
May 12-15, 2014
Philadelphia, PA
BIO International Convention
June 23-26, 2014
San Diego, CA