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Potential for Investments in the Biobased Economy a Key Theme of Upcoming BIO World Congress

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Wednesday, April 21, 2010) - The United States has a potentially substantial competitive advantage in establishing a biobased economy, offering unique opportunities for economic growth, investment and job creation. Venture capital investors, government officials, and executives from companies commercializing renewable chemical and biofuel technology will discuss the status of the industry, market acceptance, and potential help from government policy during the seventh annual World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing, June 27-30, 2010 in Washington, D.C.

Brent Erickson, executive vice president for BIO’s Industrial and Environmental Section, stated, “Innovation in the chemical industry has been stagnant for years and industrial biotechnology is changing that. Deployment of industrial biotechnology for biofuels, biobased products, and green chemicals can restore U.S. economic competitiveness in the sector, contribute to renewed, sustainable economic growth, and create or save jobs in the sector. Growth of this industry can produce high-paying green jobs across the United States, just as advanced biofuel production.”

BIO’s white paper, Biobased Chemicals and Products: A New Driver of U.S. Economic Development and Green Jobs, shows that even in its nascent state, the biobased chemicals and plastics industry accounts for more than 5,700 direct jobs, producing more than 40,000 jobs economy wide. The biobased chemicals and products market is projected to grow to more than $500 billion by 2025.

Erickson concluded, “Investors, government regulators, and executives from companies on the cutting-edge of the industry will meet in June at BIO’s World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing to share perspectives on the technology’s status. The World Congress has grown into the premier event for leaders from the biotechnology and bioprocessing industries, academia, and science community.”

Speakers confirmed and invited to address plenary session at the World Congress include:

Monday June 28

The Future of Renewable Chemical Platforms and Biobased Products
12:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

·         Brent Erickson, EVP, Industrial & Environmental Section, BIO

·         Phil Schwab, Ph.D., VP, BIOTECanada

·         Brad Rodgers, Manager, Sustainable Packaging and Advertising, Frito-Lay

·         Rick Eno, CEO, Metabolix

·         Steve Gatto, CEO, Myriant

·         Craig Binetti, President, Dupont Biosciences, Dupont

 

Creating a Viable Biofuels Value Chain
4:30 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.

·         The Honorable James C. Greenwood, CEO, BIO

·         Brent Erickson, EVP, Industrial & Environmental Section, BIO

·         John McDonald, VP and CTO, Chevron

·         Raoul Oberman, Senior Principal, McKinsey & Company

 

Keynote Address: Creating a Biobased Economy Through Coordinated Federal Policy

·         Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture, USDA (Invited)

 

Tuesday, June 29

Investing in Energy Security and Industrial Biotechnology - A Venture Capitalist’s Perspective
7:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.

·         Matthew Carr, Director, Industrial & Environmental Section, BIO

·         Jim Woolsey, Venture Partner, Vantage Point Venture Partners

·         Vinod Khosla, Founder, Khosla Ventures (Invited)

 

International Developments in Industrial Biotechnology
12:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

·         Roger Wyse, Managing Director and General Partner, Burrill & Company

·         Marcos Jank, President and CEO, União da Indústria de Cana-de-Açúcar (UNICA)         

·         Xiucai Liu, CEO, Cathay Industrial Biotechnology

·         Laszlo Mathe, World Wide Fund for Nature (Invited)

 

Wednesday, June 30

Lifecycle Assessment for Biofuels and Biobased Products: Challenges and Solutions for Regulation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
12:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

·         John Sheehan, Scientific Program Coordinator for Biofuels and the Global Environment, Institute on the Environment, University of Minnesota

·         Timothy Searchinger, Visiting Research Scholar and Lecturer in Public and International Affairs, Princeton University

·         Bruce Dale, Professor and Associate Director, Office of Biobased Technologies, Michigan State University

 

The annual World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing – co-organized by BIO, BIOTECanada, and the U.S. Department of Energy – is the original and only conference dedicated solely to industrial biotechnology and the most recent advancements in the field. Early-bird registration ends April 14, 2010. Visit www.bio.org/worldcongress.

Registration for the World Congress is now open and is complimentary for credentialed members of the news media. All programs at the World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing are open to attendance by members of the media. Reporters and editors working full-time for print, broadcast, and online news organizations may register onsite with valid media credentials. All freelancers, college and online publications are strongly encouraged to register in advance. For more information, please visit http://bio.org/worldcongress/media/media_registration.asp.

Upcoming BIO Events


BIO Intellectual Property Counsels Spring Conference and Committee Meeting
April 19-21, 2010
New Orleans, LA 

Partnering for Global Health
May 3, 2010
Chicago, IL
McCormick Place Convention Center

BIO International Convention
May 3-6, 2010
Chicago, IL
McCormick Place Convention Center

2010 BIO Human Resources Conference
May 4-7, 2010
Chicago, IL 

World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing
June 27-30, 2010
Washington, DC

BIO India
September 21 - 22, 2010
Hyderabad, India

 

BIO’s Livestock Biotechnology Summit
September 28-30, 2010,
Sioux Falls, SD

 About BIO

BIO represents more than 1,200 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world.

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