Forward Wisconsin: Coordinating Largest Marketing Effort Ever

For more information contact:

Jan Alf, 262.691.7873

Attracting biotechnology jobs, investment and research the focus of aggressive initiative at BIO 2006

MADISON – – With a total budget of nearly $300,000, over 150 Wisconsin representatives scheduled to attend, and close to 50 sponsoring and participating organizations, Wisconsin’s promotional effort at BIO 2006 will be the largest single marketing initiative ever undertaken to attract business and investment to the state.  BIO 2006 is the largest biotechnology conference in the world and is visiting the Midwest for the first time in its history.  It will take place April 9-12 in Chicago at the McCormick Place Convention Center. Over 20,000 biotech executives, investors, journalists, policy makers and scientists from more than 60 countries are expected to attend BIO 2006.

Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle and UW-Madison stem cell pioneer Dr. James Thomson will lead a diverse group of Wisconsin life science executives, economic developers, state government officials, lawyers, venture capitalists, researchers, technology licensing representatives and higher education professionals to BIO 2006.  Forward Wisconsin President Pepi Randolph and Forward Wisconsin Business Development Director Jan Alf have been working with an advisory group of industry leaders for months in preparing for the Wisconsin marketing effort at BIO 2006.  Forward Wisconsin has coordinated the state’s presence at the BIO conferences since 1999. 

“Forward Wisconsin is pleased to partner with the Wisconsin Department of Commerce, the Wisconsin Biotechnology and Medical Device Association, the Wisconsin Technology Council and countless other biotechnology leaders from around the state to help coordinate the Wisconsin presence at BIO 2006,” said Forward Wisconsin President Pepi Randolph.  “While we have been at this event for many years, the close proximity of the conference in Chicago, combined with Wisconsin’s growing strength in biotech, demanded that we pull out all the stops.  We must attract more life science investment and high-end jobs to the state and BIO 2006 is a great forum in which to do that.”   

BIO 2006 is organized by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) and is the primary annual educational conference for the life science industry.  A 1600-square-foot large Wisconsin exhibit pavilion area will highlight the state’s marketing program.  The pavilion will include a “BIOTheatre” featuring video and live presentations from many of Wisconsin’s top biotech firms.  Governor Doyle and Dr. Thomson will visit the Wisconsin pavilion and will appear at multiple events in Chicago to help promote Wisconsin’s biotechnology resources and cutting-edge research and technology.

Quarles & Brady LLP, one of the nation’s top business and intellectual property law firms, is sponsoring an exclusive, invitation-only reception on April 10^th for over 100 national and international biotechnology company executives as part of Wisconsin’s life science marketing effort.   The event will take place atop the John Hancock Center at The Signature Room at the 95^th and will be hosted by Quarles & Brady attorneys, Governor Doyle and Dr. Thomson.  A short program touting Wisconsin as a biotech leader will highlight the reception that will focus on encouraging partnerships between Wisconsin life science firms and those outside the state, as well as attracting investment and business to the state.

“Quarles & Brady LLP has supported Forward Wisconsin since it began in 1984. We strongly believe in encouraging Wisconsin business growth and economic development,” said Cory Nettles, former Wisconsin Secretary of Commerce and Forward Wisconsin Board Member. “Our firm regularly works with start-up and emerging companies to help them commercialize their discoveries and grow their businesses.”

To further promote Wisconsin life science firms, Forward Wisconsin is spearheading several marketing pieces and presentations for BIO 2006.

·         Wisconsin biotechnology and medical device company directory

·         Printed marketing piece highlighting Wisconsin’s industry strengths

·         Pre-show postcard mailer to the all the BIO 2006 pre-registered attendees

·         Wisconsin “BioTheatre” and Wisconsin pavilion layout

·         30-second “rich-media” video, sent via e-mail, encouraging attendees to visit our pavilion

·         3-minute promotional DVD with testimonials highlighting Wisconsin’s life science assets

·         CD-ROM that includes the “Bioscience Wisconsin 2006” report authored by the Wisconsin Association for Biomedical Research & Education

·         Wisconsin 2006 Pavilion Directory of Sponsors

“Our charge is to let people outside Wisconsin know that our state is the up and coming place to be if you want to be successful in the life sciences – and we can get that message out with an aggressive presence at BIO 2006,” said Randolph.  “We have such great potential in the biotech area to create wonderful employment opportunities for Wisconsin residents and we must put our best foot forward.”

BIO 2006 will bring added focus on Wisconsin as the birthplace of stem cell research and home to the only National Stem Cell Bank by featuring eight panel sessions on the topic during the four-day conference.  Wisconsin’s three leading research institutions – University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Medical College of Wisconsin and The Marshfield Clinic – will also boast a strong presence at the conference.  

Among the growing list of BIO 2006 Wisconsin sponsor and participating organizations are:

AEI Affiliated Engineers

Alliant Energy

Anteco Pharma

Biomedical Technology Alliance

Blood Center of Wisconsin

Cambridge Major Laboratories, Inc.

Cellular Dynamics International

Children’s Research Institute

EMD Biosciences

EraGen Biosciences

Fisher Scientific Company

Fitchburg Technology Neighborhood

Flad & Associates

Forward Wisconsin

Gilson, Inc.

Global GeneTechs

GWC Technologies

HGA Architects & Engineers

Hilb Rogal & Hobbs

Madison Gas & Electric

Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation

Medical College of Wisconsin

Michael Best & Friedrich LLP

Milwaukee County Research Park

Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation

NeoClone, LLC

Neurognostics, Inc.

Next Generation Clinical Research Consulting

PhysioGenix, Inc.

Promega Corporation

Quarles & Brady LLP

Quincy Bioscience, LLC

Reed Sendecke & Krebsbach

Restaino Bunbury & Associates

Schroeder Solutions

Scientific Protein Laboratories LLC

Third Wave Technologies

University Research Park

UW-Madison Office of Corporate Relations

Waisman Clinical BioManufacturing Facility

We Energies

Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C.

WICell Research Institute

Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation

WI Assoc for Biomedical Research & Education

Wisconsin Bio Industry Partnership

WI Biotechnology & Medical Device Assoc.

Wisconsin Department of Commerce

Wisconsin Technology Council