About Us | Press Releases | 2004 | April 20

BIO IT COALITION CONFERENCE, ON APRIL 27 & 28, OFFERS ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS FOR EMERGING GROWTH COMPANIES

The BIO IT Coalition, a non-profit membership organization that facilitates the incorporation of bioinformatics, computational biology, and IT infrastructure for developing new pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and clinical practice products and business opportunities, is pleased to announce it is hosting the third annual BIO IT Opportunities: Innovation and Partnership Conference on April 27-28, 2004, at the Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner.

"The goal for this conference is to provide an opportunity for the exchange of ideas and information between members of the Bioscience, Information Technology, Business, Legal, Medical/Healthcare and VC communities," Steve A. Mandell, Chairman of the BIO IT Coalition. "We want to foster working relationships with others in complementary fields and to provide the tools for learning and communication - through educational presentations and excellent speakers."

Keynote speaker for the conference is Benjamin H. Wu, Deputy Under Secretary for Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce, who will speak on "Policy and Partnerships to Accelerate Innovation in the Converging Technologies." Attendees will learn how developing science and technology policies can optimize the growth of technology in America.

Other topics for the conference include:
• Funding Strategies
• BIO IT Success Stories: Marketing Life Science Products
• How Not to Fail in a BIO IT Business
• Partnering Issues
• Dirty Little Tricks People Play in Licensing
• Challenges and Trends in Technology Transfer
• The Future World around BIO IT
• and more...

Emerging growth companies will find particular value in a new segment for this year titled "Opportunities in Bio-IT."

The "Opportunities in Bio-IT" session runs from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., on Tuesday April 27 where pre-selected, qualified companies will have the opportunity to meet, one-on-one, with decision-makers from large pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and information technology companies for private meetings. Representatives of selected emerging growth companies with innovative technologies will be given the opportunity to make 15-minute one-on-one presentations about their business opportunities/technologies to senior decision-makers from some of the more well known pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in our region.

Companies selected to be presenters at the April 27 "Opportunities in BioIT" session will receive comprehensive presentation coaching and guidance in advance from Gates and Company to help them best present themselves to key decision-makers.

For more information on the "Opportunities in BioIT" session, call David Frankil, Managing Director of Gates and Company, at 703-856-6739 or dfrankil@gatesandcompany.com.

About the BioIT Coalition:

The BIO IT Coalition, a non-profit membership organization facilitates the incorporation of bioinformatics, computational biology, and IT infrastructure for developing new pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and clinical practice products and business opportunities. The Coalition produces networking events, educational programs and conferences, and provides an atmosphere conducive to business investment, development, and partnership. Local members of the Coalition include George Mason University, Arlington County Office of Economic Development, IMC, Inc., Kenyon & Kenyon, Pepper Hamilton LLP, and University of Maryland University College (UMUC). For information about Coalition membership and other upcoming events, call 202-220-1402 or go to http://www.bioitcoalition.org.