Wisconsin Technology Council, Forward Wisconsin: Tech Council, Forward Wisconsin collaborate on national events to showcase state business sectors

Madison – The Wisconsin Technology Council and Forward Wisconsin will work together to raise the state’s profile as a good place to do business through exposure at targeted conventions, trade shows and exhibitions, leaders of the groups announced Friday.

The partnership includes Forward Wisconsin’s major support for the MidAmerica Healthcare Venture Forum, to be held Nov. 11-12 in Madison, as well as support for a strategic state presence at key trade shows in five industry sectors – biotechnology, nanotechnology, “cleantech,” medical device manufacturing and stem cells. Events already scheduled are:

* The MidAmerica Healthcare Venture Forum, one of the largest venture conferences in the Midwest. This event will attract investors from coast to coast to Madison and will be held side-by-side with the Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium.

* Midwest Clean Tech 2009, to be held Nov. 23-24, 2009 at the Federal Reserve Bank in Chicago.

* BIO 2010, which will be held in early May at McCormick Place in Chicago. This is the world’s largest biotech event, with an emphasis on agricultural and industrial as well as medical biotech.

Forward Wisconsin has led the state of Wisconsin delegation at the BIO International Convention (BIO) since the late 1990s. In 2010, the global event will present unique collaborative and outreach opportunities to Wisconsin as it takes the stage in Chicago, May 3-6. The Tech Council will oversee pavilion management, hosting of an I-Q Corridor and Knowledge Corridor reception with Minnesota and the Province of Manitoba, and production of a strategic partnering event for the Wisconsin delegation. Forward Wisconsin again is a major funder for the Wisconsin Pavilion.

“Our goal at the BIO International Convention in 2010 is to demonstrate that Wisconsin is a great place to transfer ideas from the lab bench to emerging companies, to attract investors and grow those companies over time,” Tech Council President Tom Still said.

“With Forward’s history of promoting and growing Wisconsin’s economy, we are pleased to collaborate with the Tech Council, another organization with experience in events that foster statewide business growth, and a natural partner for us in this effort,” said Diane Ramsey, chair of Forward Wisconsin and director of economic development and community relations for Alliant Energy. “We’re confident this collaboration will help Wisconsin and further the missions of both organizations.”

The Wisconsin Technology Council is the science and technology advisor to the governor and Legislature, and serves as a catalyst for tech-based economic growth. To learn more visit http://www.wisconsintechnologycouncil.com.

Forward Wisconsin is a not-for-profit statewide marketing and business recruitment organization created in 1984 to attract new businesses, jobs and increased economic activity to Wisconsin. To learn more visit http://www.forwardwi.com

For more information about joining the Wisconsin delegation at the 2010 BIO International Convention, Midwest Clean Tech 2009 or other sector conferences contact Jodi Hoeser (pronounced Hay-zer) at 608-442-7557 ext. 26 or jhoeser@wisconsintechnologycouncil.com. Hoeser, formerly of Third Wave Technologies, has joined the Tech Council as director of national conferences to lead the joint effort.