Capital Formation

What is your opinion of biotechnology companies – very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, or very unfavorable?

BIOtechNOW’s Tracy Cooley talks to Dr. Schubert of the  Bioscience Association of West Virginia about biotech in West Virginia – major areas of growth, the outlook for growth of the industry within the states, and plans for the upcoming  BIO International Convention.

BIO and five member companies – Mendel Biotechnology, Arborgen, Abengoa Bioenergy, Novozymes and BP Biofuels – along with the Biomass Power Association held a briefing on Capitol Hill this week, outlining the importance of the USDA’s Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) and related programs. Regulatory rules for the BCAP, Biorefinery Assistance Program, and Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) were finalized by USDA only during the last quarter of 2010. But Congress is considering cutting the funds for these programs before they have a chance to show their effectiveness.

The Biotechnology Entrepreneurship Boot Camp at the 2011 BIO International convention is an intensive three day course designed for entrepreneurial scientists, CEOs, CSOs and business development professionals of early stage companies in the life sciences who are aspiring entrepreneurs.

Fine, University of Maryland Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship and local co-chair of the Boot Camp, discusses the event, who should attend and what they can expect to learn.

This week is National Small Business Week (May 16-20). Every year, the president proclaims National Small Business Week to recognize the contributions of small businesses to the economic well-being of America. More than half of all Americans either own or work for a small business. In honor of National Small Business Week, BIO compiled our top 5 strategies for small business success.