BIO World Congress workshops announced

These workshops are designed for focused discussions on the newest trends in business strategies, investment opportunities and technology development in industrial biotechnology. 

The BIO World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology will be held from July 19 to 22, 2015 at the Palais des congrès de Montréal in Montréal.

“Industrial biotechnology is driving innovation in the chemical industry and biobased industry has shown great potential in creating new jobs and business opportunities across manufacturing, industrial and agricultural sectors in the United States and around the world,” said Brent Erickson, executive vice-president for BIO’s Industrial & Environmental Section. “Government policies supporting the development of biomass and biobased products signals to private investors that there is a strong market for these products. The confluence of policy and investment drives us towards a bioeconomy that can provide better, greener, and more sustainable products that meet consumer demands.”

The workshops will be held Tuesday, July 21 from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm in rooms 518 to 522. A list of the workshops and related information are noted below:

The Bioproduct Supply Chains in Action workshop will focus on distinct supply chains that were precipitated by an idea or a company need that, through collaboration and strategic support from industry and government sources, were able to be created. This workshop is being sponsored by Canadian Prairie Biosciences and moderated by Sean McKay of the Composites Innovation Centre.

Panelists include:
•Sean McKay, Composites Innovation Centre
•Wendy Wu, Plains Industrial Hemp Processing
•Jeremy Lang, Open Mind Developments
•Alvin Ulrich, Biolin Research
•Dan Madlung, BioComposites Group
•Tam Tekle, TTS

The Practical Magic: Genomics, Phenomics and the Next Generation of Advanced Materials workshop will discuss the current biomaterials industry and market trends together with essential quality assurance innovations. It will also be sponsored by Canadian Prairie Biosciences but moderated by Simon Potter of the Composites Innovation Centre.

Panelists include:
•David Levin, University of Manitoba
•Michael Deyholos, University of British Columbia
•Simon Potter, Composites Innovation Centre / FibreCITY
•Reno Pontarollo, Genome Prairie

The Value of Biobased in a Period of Low Oil Prices workshop will hold an informative discussion on the value of biobased in the face of falling oil prices. Sponsored by Succinity, Markus Pompejus of the BASF Corporation will moderate.

Panelists include:
•Markus Hummelsberger, Succinity GmbH
•Dennis Hall, OBIC
•Hans van der Pol, Corbion
•Chantal Bergeron, Seventh Generation 

The Protecting Valuable IP in the Face of New Challenges to Patent Eligibility workshop will be moderated by Sharon E. Roberg-Perez of the Robins Kaplan LLP.  In assessing how the climate has changed for patenting industrial biotechnology innovations, this workshop will consider the benefits and risks of trade secret protection, the most logical substitute for maximizing IP value when patenting may not be possible. Sterne Kessler Goldstein Fox and Robin Kaplan LLP are co-sponsors of this event.    

Panelists include:
•Joseph Taffy, Thermo Fisher Sciences, Inc.
•Matt McFarlane, Robins Kaplan LLP
•Peter Jackman, Sterne Kessler Goldstein Fox
•Hans Sauer, BIO 
•Lee Walko, Omni Tech International

The final workshop will host a panel of highly motivated and significant equity investors who will identify and examine the key concerns and requirements of angels, family offices, venture capital, private equity, strategic capital, infrastructure funds, institutional, public equity and other funders to invest into renewable chemicals, bioproducts and advanced biofuels at the technology company, project and portfolio levels.

This workshop titled Key Requirements Of Equity Investors To Invest Into Renewable Chemicals, Bioproducts and Advanced Biofuels Companies and Projects will be co-sponsored and moderated by John May, Stern Brothers & Co., John Kirkwood, Krieg DeVault LLP, and Mark Riedy, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP.

Panelists include:
•Brian Baynes, Flagship Ventures
•Tom Huot, Vantage Point
•Christian Baker, Stern Brothers & Co.
•Geoff Duyk, MD, PhD, TPG
•Ludwig Goris, Capricorn Ventures
•Michael Knutzen, The Coca-Cola Company

All programs at the World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology are open to attendance by members of the media. Complimentary media registration is available to editors and reporters working full time for print, broadcast or web publications with valid press credentials.

For more information on the conference, visit www.bio.org/worldcongress.  For assistance, contact worldcongress@bio.org.