Need any more evidence that biotech is one hot field these days? Check out the BIO 2005 conference. From The Philadelphia Business Journal
- The convention broke an attendance record with 18,730 people coming to the city from 61 countries. Records were also set at this year's event for the number of one-on-one business partnership meetings, 7,200, and the number of exhibitors, 1,525.
"The energy level is the same this year," said [Mickey Flynn, the president of Malvern-based Puresyn Inc.]. "It's magnified because there are a lot more people. ... People understand biotechnology more now, but I think we still have a long way to go to educate people. "
The only downside was that a policeman "apparently died from a heart-related ailment while trying to end a scuffle with anti-biotech protesters outside the convention center." With the industry still viewed as controversial, protesters are likely to be a part of the picture for the foreseeable future.
If your meeting might draw an unfriendly crowd, check out this article.