Idaho hopes to gain foothold in biotechnology – Idaho Biotech Organized

For the first time, state has booth at industry meeting convention

This week, Idaho is sending this message to the world’s biotechnology industry: We are here.

For the first time, Idaho sent a contingent to the world’s largest biotechnology conference, which meets through Thursday in San Francisco. Led by the Idaho Office of Science and Technology, representatives also include leaders from the new BIO Idaho organization http://www.bio.org .

Julie Howard
The Idaho Statesman

http://www.idahostatesman.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040608/NEWS0202/406080320/1001/NEWS

"In the world of biotechnology, Idaho is a small but emerging player," said Karl Tueller, director of the Office of Science and Technology, who spent Monday at the event. "We’re letting people know Idaho has some capabilities."

About 18,000 worldwide attendees are expected at the Biotechnology Industry Organization’s annual convention, which is spread into three convention areas and 22 hotels in San Francisco, said Tueller.

Idaho’s six-member contingent won’t make a splash, he acknowledged, but the state’s 10-foot-by-10-foot booth might capture the attention of some of the thousands of attendees expected to walk by each day.

This month, Idaho became the newest member of the Biotechnology Industry Organization, known as BIO. The organization represents more than 1,000 biotechnology companies, universities and state biotechnology centers in all 50 states and 33 nations.

"I am especially pleased to welcome Idaho into the fold of states with regional trade associations to foster research and growth into the life sciences," said Carl B. Feldbaum, president of BIO. "We are impressed with the R&D infrastructure already in place, and we look forward to working with BIO Idaho to help take the state’s nascent bioscience industry to the next level."

Philip Syrdal, chairman of BIO Idaho and a retired CEO of a Seattle biotech firm, said the state has the ability to participate more in the biosciences industries.

"There’s more bioscience in the state than meets the eye," said Syrdal, who is among the Idaho contingent at the conference. "There’s a lot here with animal technology and agriculture. We’re very hooked into the biosciences, but we haven’t really thought of it as the biosciences. We need to build a culture here."

BIO Idaho came out of an effort launched by the state’s three public universities. Led by Michael Laskowski, a University of Idaho biology professor, the U of I, Boise State University and Idaho State University applied for a grant to boost biotech research in the state. An $8.3 million grant received in 2001 led to the creation of the Idaho Biotechnology and Biomedical Association.

Part of a second $16.1 million grant received this spring is being used toward developing the BIO Idaho effort, said Laskowski. Funding also came from the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory.

"This biotech association links the universities and the private sector and the government together to promote job growth and a place for our students to work," he said.

Laskowski said his goal in attending the convention is to explore how other small states have built their biotechnology industries.

"It’s a daunting task because there are so many states so far ahead of us," said Laskowski.

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The creation of the Idaho Bioscience Association (BIO Idaho) in early June means BIO, the trade organization of the biotech industry, now has affiliates in 37 states. "BIO Idaho was formed to create a strong alliance between universities and biotechnology industries from all regions of Idaho," said Philip Syrdal, BIO Idaho’s president and former chief executive officer of an international immunology company.

"The association’s primary role will be to enhance the development of the bioscience industry in Idaho, promoting the creation and retention of the state’s intellectual capital by focusing on the process of transferring promising technology into the private sector for investment and development."

Copyright State Science & Technology Institute 2004. Redistribution to all others interested in tech-based economic development is strongly encouraged ­ please cite the State Science & Technology Institute whenever portions are reproduced or redirected.

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The Biotechnology Industry Organization
(BIO) announced today the creation of the Idaho Bioscience Association (BIO
Idaho) to represent the state’s efforts to develop the bioscience industry.

BIO now has affiliates in 37 states.

"I am especially pleased to welcome Idaho into the fold of states with
regional trade associations to foster research and growth into the life
sciences," said Carl B. Feldbaum, president of BIO. "We are impressed with
the R&D infrastructure already in place, and we look forward to working with
BIO Idaho to help take the state’s nascent bioscience industry to the next
level." Feldbaum is retiring from BIO at the end of 2004 and plans to move to
his home in Idaho.

"BIO Idaho will join a growing number of dedicated bioscience associations
that make up the Council of State Bioscience Associations (CSBA) within BIO,"
said Patrick Kelly, BIO’s vice president of state government relations. "The
CSBA provides an excellent forum for BIO Idaho representatives to network with
other state-based bioscience association executives and discuss policy matters
affecting the industry as well as exchange best practices regarding
association management."

"BIO Idaho was formed to create a strong alliance between universities and
biotechnology industries from all regions of Idaho," said Philip Syrdal, BIO
Idaho’s president and former CEO of an international immunology company. "The
association’s primary role will be to enhance the development of the
bioscience industry in Idaho, promoting the creation and retention of the
state’s intellectual capital by focusing on the process of transferring
promising technology into the private sector for investment and development.

The organization is the first of its kind in Idaho and will serve as a central
point of contact for a large community of companies involved in biotechnology,
medicine, biomaterials, environmental and agricultural research."

"Using seed money grants provided by the National Institutes of Health,
Idaho’s three universities — the University of Idaho, Boise State University
and Idaho State University — have been working cooperatively to enhance the
research infrastructure in Idaho," according to BIO Idaho’s Chairman, Dr.
Michael Laskowski of the University of Idaho. "This partnership between
universities in promoting science education and research is fundamental to
developing a strong bioscience industry in the state. BIO Idaho will now
provide support, innovation and guidance in forging an effective university-
industry partnership."

In addition to Dr. Laskowski and Mr. Syrdal, Dr. Julia Oxford of Boise
State University and Dr. Christopher Daniels of Idaho State University are
Executive Committee members of the association’s founding Board of Directors.
Significant initial funding for the organization has been provided by Idaho’s
three major universities, the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental
Laboratory (INEEL), and by a federal grant from the Biomedical Research
Infrastructure Network (BRIN). A statewide member recruitment effort is
beginning this summer.

BIO represents more than 1,000 biotechnology companies, academic
institutions and state biotechnology centers in all 50 states and 33 nations.
BIO members are involved in the research and development of health-care,
agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.

SOURCE Biotechnology Industry Organization
Web Site: http://www.bio.org