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Here's another good review of how San Diego has developed its biotech cluster.
San Diego is home to the third largest concentration of biotechnology companies in the world, behind the Bay Area and Boston. It’s an impressive claim that industry insiders say is the result of two major forces: the cluster of world-class research institutes that sprang up more than 40 years ago on the Torrey Pines Mesa and the success of one local company that fostered a generation of gutsy entrepreneurs with the money and expertise to start new companies.
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In the wake of BIO 2008, two important bioscience initiatives have appeared.
The first is in Georgia, where a group of communities and organizations around Atlanta announced their first regional branding initiative in the life sciences.
Brad posts about this below.
The second is in California, where the Southern California Biomedical Council (SoCalBio), BIOCOM and BayBio, which together represent life science firms and research organizations across California, announced an alliance to promote the state’s life science industry. You can read more here.
Workforce Innovations 2008: WIRED Bioscience Interest Group (BIG) meeting
by Brad Wiggins. 
Posted in networking. Tagged with big, networking, workforce innovations.
The WIRED Bioscience Interest Group (BIG) Community of Practice will convene a meeting prior to Workforce Innovations 2008 in New Orleans, Louisiana. This meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 15, from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., and will be held at the Hilton Riverside Hotel; Grand Salon, Room 3. Agenda information will be discussed during the next conference call of the WIRED BIG.
WIRED Academy Bioscience Community of Practice (BIG) Breakout Session
by Brad Wiggins.
Posted in networking. Tagged with best practices, big, networking.
The WIRED Bioscience Community of Practice (BIG) will meet on Thursday, May 1, 2008, from 10:15am until Noon during the Boston WIRED Academy. This session will focus on discussion of Best Practices in relation to a tool developed by the BIG.
Bioenergy in the South Working Groups
by Brad Wiggins.
Posted in networking. Tagged with bioenergy, networking, r&d.
A recent mailing from the Southern Growth Policies Board that may be of interest to the BIG members:
Dear Bioenergy Researcher, In July of 2007, a meeting of over 50 Southern bioenergy researchers took place at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to discuss how to connect the work being done in bioenergy across the South. The first step in connecting researchers has been the development of subject-specific working groups. There are currently three working group opportunities available for your participation. They are: Subject Description Bioenergy Pilot Plants The purpose of this working group is to optimize bioenergy pilot plant efforts across the Southeast by (1) Sharing information about pilot capabilities across the Southeast, (2) Influencing future choices so as to increase regional capabilities for piloting, (3) Allowing more piloting coordination between facilities, and (4) Sharing lessons learned in pilot management and operation. Research Partnerships on Germplasm Development This working group will bring together researchers working on developing new and improved germplasm of biofuel/bioenergy feedstock crops. Four main categories of feedstock crops will be addressed: (1) Lignocellulosic feedstock based on various grass/crop species, (2) Wood based feedstock species (3) Readily available extractable carbohydrates based feedstock species, and (4) Oil seed based feedstock species for biodiesel production. Biomass Transportation & Logistics Biomass transportation and logistics are a critical element to the development of the bioenergy industry, particularly as the industry looks towards scaling up. Issues that working group members will address include (1) Moving feedstocks from the field to a biorefinery, (2) Moving fuel from the plant to the pump, and (3) Storing biomass. Attached you will find further details regarding each of the working groups which also provides information on each host institution. Each group’s host will direct participation in the working groups. Some may choose to function in a completely virtual environment and others may find face-to-face meetings more appropriate. All working groups will meet for a one-day meeting in September 2008 to discuss findings and future steps. If you or someone you know are interested in participating in one of these working groups, please contact me atcpennock@southern.org or (919) 941-5145. Please respond by April 11th. Charity Pennock Senior Policy Analyst Southern Growth Policies Board Project Coordinator, SAFER (919) 941-5145
BioBeers: Where Entrepreneurs are Served
by Jerry McCarthy.
Posted in networking. Tagged with entrepreneurs, networking, start-ups.
We know that face-to-face interaction and networking is key to starting, nurturing, and supporting entrepreneurial projects on the way to becoming established and profitable enterprises. It is far cheaper to meet your IP lawyer informally at a small educational session than over his or her desk with the meter running, for example. In Colorado, there are a number of formal and informal programs that provide these kinds of networking opportunities. Perhaps the most informal is BioBeers, a spirited gathering that is particularly welcoming to young entrepreneurs and interested students...
From the online description, "All About BioBeers":
Colorado has a rich history in the life science industry. A fundamental component to accelerate the region towards achieving a top-tier bio-cluster ranking is a thriving and nurturing bio-entrepreneurial community. BioBeers is designed to function as such an accelerant, where like minded bio-preneurs gather once a month to share ideas, cultivate business relationships and build life long friendships.
For more information about "the premiere life science start-up club in Colorado":
