BIO is the world's largest biotechnology organization, providing advocacy, business development and communications services for more than 1,150 members worldwide. Our mission is to be the champion of biotechnology and the advocate for our member organizations—both large and small.
BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology technologies. Corporate members range from entrepreneurial companies developing a first product to Fortune 100 multinationals. We also represent state and regional biotech associations, service providers to the industry and academic centers. Visit the BIO Member Directory to browse BIO members and Web site links as well as BIO state and international affiliates.
Member services include:
- Federal and state advocacy on issues affecting the industry
- A dozen or more investor and partnering meetings throughout the year, with discounts for members
- Communications services that disseminate information about the benefits of biotechnology
- BIO Business Solutions discounts for a variety of goods and services
Brief History
BIO was created in 1993 through the merger of the Association of Biotechnology Companies and the Industrial Biotechnology Association. The goal was for the entire industry—from young startups to established companies—to speak with one voice for the industry on such issues as FDA reform, reimbursement policy, national healthcare policy, regulation of biotech crops, and small business and economic development issues.
Over the last 12 years, we have made progress on many fronts:
- Enactment of FDA reform in the 1997 food and Drug Administration Modernization Act
- The Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 largely incorporated BIO's principles for establishing coverage of outpatient drugs
- From the first significant commercial plantings in 1996, double digit growth in each subsequent year has led to more than 252 million acres of biotech crops planted in 2006 in 22 countries
- At least 40 states have programs in place to promote bioscience-related economic development
- The U.S. government has established aggressive, but realistic, targets for biofuels production, including key incentives for continued development of biotech-based fuels
- Agricultural biotechnology has helped enable large shifts in agronomic practices that have led to significant and widespread environmental benefits, such as improved soil makeup and water, reduced runoff, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture.
- Since their introduction in 1996, biotech crops have increased global farm income by $27 billion
- Cloning can be used to protect endangered species. In Southeast Asia, both the banteng and the guar, which are meat-type bovines, have been cloned in conservation efforts to increase populations of species threatened by extinction
- BIO supports strong regulatory oversight for agricultural biotechnology from three federal agencies
Specific issues may have changed over the years, but our core mission of fostering biotechnology innovation through advocacy, business development and communications remains the same.
BIO International Convention
BIO produces the annual BIO International Convention, the world's largest gathering of the biotechnology industry. The BIO International Convention attracts more than 20,000 attendees from around the world including more than 500 members of the international press. Convention attendees hear from global biotechnology leaders, learn about the latest biotech innovations and network with their peers from established and emerging biotech companies, research institutions, service providers and biotech hubs.
BIO also produces a series of industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world.
BIO Senior Staff
Names, titles and biographies for BIO's senior staff. View the list.
Annual Report
Milestones is the Biotechnology Industry Organization's annual report on membership, outreach and advocacy efforts, and expenditures.
Guide to Biotechnology
The Guide to Biotechnology is a guidepost for both industry and mainstream journalists to key information about the biotech industry and how it influences and improves many lives each day. Explore the guide.
Careers at BIO
If you are interested in a job with BIO, begin your search by reviewing open professional and support positions listed on our career page. If you do not see an available opportunity with BIO that suits your background, please submit your cover letter and resume for future consideration to hr@bio.org.
