The Student Biotech Network strives to educate students about biotechnology, by hosting lecture series, networking events, roundtable discussions and career fairs. The SBN Career Fair & Conference has grown to become the largest biotech career fair in Western Canada and is the primary means for students in BC to learn about the opportunities that exist in the local and international biotech industry.

The SBN Career Fair & Conference has grown to become the largest biotech career fair in Western Canada and is the primary means for students in BC to learn about the opportunities that exist in the local and international biotech industry.

Date: Tuesday, February 6, 2007 In conjunction with BioPartnering North America
Location: Hyatt Regency Hotel Vancouver, BC
Time: 5:30pm-9:30pm


Objectives of the Career Fair + Conference

• To provide students with the answers that they need in order to make well-informed career decisions
• To provide information regarding careers outside academia via presentations and unparalleled exposure to the individuals and organizations comprise the local biotechnology industry
• To create links between students from traditionally separate programs, while also promoting the development of life skills, most importantly networking and communication which are essential to a successful career in any field

Booth exhibitions will be open to students from 5:00 to 8:00 PM. Four independent break-out sessions will take place during this time, allowing students the option of attending sessions and exploring booth exhibits. 

BC Biotech is working in partnership with SBN to ensure that our students get the most of this event.  For more information on being an exhibitor and attending this event, please click here

 

Sponsorship Opportunities Still Available for BioPartnering North America

Numerous sponsorship opportunities are still available for BioPartnering North America (BPN) which is being held from February 4-6, 2007 in Vancouver, B.C., Canada at the Westin Bayshore Resort. These include Premium, Platnum, Gold & Silver Sponsorships along with sponsorship opportunities for the Conference Handbook, Conference Handbag, Corporate Kiosk, Hotel Guest Room “Keycard”, Relaxation Station and Continental Breakfast for Monday and Tuesday morning of the conference.

For more details please click here or contact Barry Gee, Director, Operations and Communications at (604) 602-5226 or bgee@bcbiotech.ca

Get Your Nominations in Now For the 9^th Annual BC Biotechnology Awards

BC Biotech is proud to be hosting our 9^th Annual BC Biotechnology Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 to honour outstanding contributions made by members of British Columbia's biotechnology community. This event has evolved to become the premier evening of the year for biotech in BC, and we hope to have you all join us in this year's celebration.

You all know a deserving member of British Columbia's biotechnology community, so we ask you to make sure they are nominated! The nomination process is open to BC Biotech members and non-members alike, and you may nominate another company or person you feel is deserving, or submit an application for your own company.

Please click here for nomination guidelines and form (To download the form, click the link and select Save)

The deadline for nominations is Tuesday, January 31, 2007 at 4:00 pm.

For more information about the BC Biotechnology Awards please visit www.bcbiotech.ca

The 9^th Annual BC Biotechnology Awards are presented by:

BC Biotech Delegation Attending BioVision and BioSquare in Lyon, France

Connect with Europe's (and the world's) Leading Biotech and Pharma Companies
March 10-14th 2007 in Lyon, France

In order to increase the international profile of BC's biotech sector, and our number of international partnerships, investments and research collaborations, BC Biotech is targeting key strategic events around the world.

To actively target opportunities in Europe, the first of these meetings will be BioVision and BioSquare in Lyon, France from March 10-14th, 2007. The Province of British Columbia is proud to be one of the leading international supporters of these concurrent conferences, and has secured a prominent position at the conferences in terms of exhibit space, delegate registrations, and speaking opportunities.

BC Biotech is pleased to have the following companies attending BioVision and BioSquare in Lyon, France:

• Centre for Drug Research and Development
• UBC Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
• StemCell Group of Companies
• Neuromed
• iCo Therapeutics
• Allon Therapeutics
• Ministry of Economic Development
• Genome BC
• TSX Venture Exchange

For more information on the BC Biotech Delegation to BioVision and Biosquare, please contact:

Barry Gee
Director, Operations and Communications
Tel: 604-602-5226
Email: bgee@bcbiotech.ca  

BioVision (March 10-14th)
The World Life Sciences Forum, BioVision is a unique international platform that aims to facilitate dialogue and debate, and set-up proposals for actions on challenging issues related to the international life sciences industries. Since its inception, BioVision has grown to become one of the main world events with the life sciences: from 1,300 attendees representing 30 countries in 1999 growing to 4,100 delegates representing 70 countries in 2005. This year's event will include world-renowned speakers including numerous Nobel Laureates and Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations.

For more information, please visit the conference website at: http://www.biovision.org/events_uk.htm  


BioSquare (March 12-14th)
Within six years, BioSquare has become one of the most attended international partnering events taking place in Europe. Every year, BioSquare gathers top business development executives from biotech and large corporations, as well as major investors. The three-day event features a full program including workshops led by corporate executives and biotech experts, company presentations and panel discussions.

BioSquare offers the same sophisticated internet partnering software system used for BioPartnering North America, allowing conference participants to organize and schedule meetings beforehand, and to optimize the opportunity to create sustainable, long-term business partnerships.

BioSquare 2006 included:

- 802 companies
- 5139 scheduled one-on-one partnering meetings
- 147 biotech and mid-sized pharma company presentations
- 34 countries represented

For additional information, please see the conference website at: http://www.biosquare.com/  

Medicon Valley Delegation Visits Vancouver

Medicon Valley (situated in the broader Copenhagen/Malmö region of Europe) is Europe’s 3^rd largest biotech cluster, and hosts some of world leading life-science companies in niche areas such as diabetes, CNS, haemostasis, enzymes, cancer, novel foods, and nutraceuticals.

From January 15-19, 2007, a delegation of fifteen life sciences representatives from Medicon Valley will be visiting Canada’s top three Life-Science clusters which include Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.  The mission will meet with industry associations, leading edge life science companies, key business and scientific infrastructures (such as science parks, university tech transfer offices, incubators), and life science venture financing organizations. 

The mission will allow Canada to present our world class research infrastructures and our competitive business environment. The participants will exchange best practices on life science cluster development, science park management, and financing, as well as identify partnership opportunities between Medicon Valley and selected Canadian life sciences organizations.

British Columbia will be welcoming the Medicon Valley delegation in Vancouver from January 18^th to 19^th.  During their visit, the delegates will be meeting with BC Biotech, Genome BC, Discovery Parks, the UBC Industry Liaison Office, Vancouver Island Technology Park, the Ministry of Economic Development and local VC's.  The delegation will also be doing company visits and tours of Xenon Pharmaceuticals and Angiotech Pharmaceuticals.

Conference Board of Canada Meets in Vancouver

From January 31^st to February 2^nd, members from the Conference Board of Canada are holding their third meeting in Vancouver to discuss and explore effective mechanisms expressing the value proposition for the biotech sector in Canada. 

BC Biotech is pleased to have the Honourable Colin Hansen, Minister for Economic Development making the opening remarks to the members of the Conference Board of Canada.  These three day of meetings will involve presentations from Ms. Natalie Dakers, CEO for the Centre of Drug Research and Development, Ms. Mary Lindenstein Walshok, Dean of University Extension, Associate Vice Chancellor for Public Programs, University of California and Mr. Rory M. Francis, Executive Director, PEI BioAlliance. The participants will also have the opportunity to tour one of our local lab facilities -- Xenon Pharmaceuticals.