BioFlorida's Celebration of Biotechnology has Record Attendance
ALACHUA – Over 500 biotechnology professionals, university employees and public officials – a record turnout – gathered on May 13 at RTI Biologics campus in Progress Corporate Park for BioFlorida’s 7th Annual Celebration of Biotechnology. Attendees saw the latest products and services from over 70 biotech industry exhibitors, heard presentations from seven local CEO’s, and learned about educational and job opportunities in the area.
“The number of people who attended this event shows that North Florida has quietly become an important generator of bioscience and technology jobs, which ultimately helps to diversify Florida’s economy,” said Patti Breedlove, associate director of the University of Florida’s (UF) Sid Martin Biotechnology Incubator, and event chair. “The Celebration has grown into a great networking event that lets us showcase the research that’s happening locally, and keeps the region at the forefront of Florida’s technology economy.”
The Northeast Chapter of BioFlorida, the statewide trade association for the bioscience industry, sponsored the event to raise awareness about North Florida’s vibrant life sciences cluster. The Alachua/Gainesville area is home to the largest cluster of biotech organizations in the state, anchored by companies such as RTI Biologics, Exactech and UF’s Sid Martin Biotechnology Incubator. Most are located in Progress Corporate Park in Alachua. Of the 1,000 people employed at the corporate park, more than 80 percent work at start-up companies born from technology developed at UF’s incubator.
New features at the Celebration this year included local food vendors, a narrated bus tour of the Park, as well as the traditional open houses. The Celebration’s remarkable success has already sparked plans to offer similar events across the state. Sponsors of the Celebration of Biotechnology included Fisher Scientific, Pittcon 2011, Smith & Hopen, P.A., Gainesville CEO and the Florida High Tech Corridor. For more information and a full list of the more than 70 vendors, visit www.bioflorida.com.
