California Industrial Biotech Conference
BIOCOM and BayBio are creating a day and a half conference that will combine the business, research and investment aspects for the industrial biotech community in this unique statewide conference. Through panel discussions, partnering opportunities and ample networking opportunities to extend your relationships. This conference will educate participants on the opportunities and challenges facing industrial biotech companies and ultimately demonstrate why California is a center of innovation in the industrial biotech space.
REGISTRATION - https://biocom.org/event/index/CA_Industrial_Biotech_Conference/registra...
September 15, 2010
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Registration and Networking
3:00 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. Financing Strategies for Industrial Biotech Companies
Financing Strategies for Industrial Biotech Companies
A panel of industry experts will take a closer look at the financial climate for industrial biotech: which companies are receiving funding from the venture capital? How industrial biotechnology companies can take advantage of the government initiatives, such as clean energy legislation and American Recovery and Reinvestment (ARRA)? And how partnership and investment from the big oil affect clean tech company business models.
Moderator:
Aaron Schuchart, President, SEA Consulting Group
Speakers:
Christophe Schilling, CEO, Genomatica
Bill Haywood, CEO, LS9
James Zhang, Khosla Ventures
4:15 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. Keynote Presentation
Algae Biofuels: Because a pig will not eat a lump of coal
Keynote:
Greg Mitchell, Board of Directors of the Houston Advanced Research Center, the Algal Biomass Organization, Associate Director, San Diego Center for Algal Biotechnology
4:45 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Networking Reception
September 16, 2010
7:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. Registration and networking
8:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. Breakfast Plenary
Anatomy of Success
What enables companies to succeed? How to plan for it and how to stay on top? What is the past and what is the future for the industrial biotechnology in Northern California and worldwide?
One of the oldest industrial biotechnology companies in California is driving the future of innovation in this sector. It has taken more than 20 years of testing, perfecting, and patenting the biomass conversion process to reach this phase of large-scale commercial production.
During our breakfast plenary Genencor International will share its story of corporate success, as well as its perspectives on an industry role in making the shift to cost-effective renewable fuels, building the low-carbon economy, and creating economic growth opportunities.
Keynote:
Michael Arbige, PhD, Senior VP Technology, Genencor International
9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Networking Break
10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Plenary Session
The Commercialization Challenge
Advances in genetics, biotechnology, process chemistry, and engineering are leading to a new manufacturing concept for converting renewable biomass to valuable fuels and chemical products. Yet cost of oil is unstable and has contracted due to economic crisis. Direct competition with other sources of energy brings into a question commercial success of many companies struggling to contain production costs. Filling the tank without emptying the stomach is another issue to conquer, as well as adapting distribution networks and establishing new regulatory pathways. A panel of industry leaders will focus on commercialization challenge facing California clean technology companies and how they are solving them.
Moderator:
Brent Erickson, Executive Vice President, Industrial and Environmental Section, BIO
Speakers:
Ag panel:
Jeff Martin, President & CEO, Yulex
Rasto Ivanic, Sr. Director, Business Development, Mendel Biotechnology, Inc.
BioFuels panel:
Martin Sabarsky, JD, MBA, Chief Financial Officer & Chief Operating Officer, HR BioPetroleum
Chemicals panel:
Jonathan Wolfson, CEO and co-founder, Solazyme
Damien Perriman, Vice President of Business Development, Verdezyne
12:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. Keynote Lunch
Federal Policy
A push to open new domestic energy sources changed the dynamic in Washington nearly overnight. How biofuels fit into these plans? Will nuclear power overwhelm efforts of the industrial biotechnology sector? Is coal really the king? Our keynote lunch will focus on current energy policies of the US government, its approach to supporting next generation biofuels, the impact of the economic stimulus package as well as proposed cap-and-trade program on the industrial biotechnology industry.
2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Closing Plenary
California Regulatory Environment
California ranks 6th highest among 50 states in terms of cost of doing business. The state ranks 4th highest among 50 states as having the worst business tax climate, i.e. 47th in the nation. The long-term issues, such as aging infrastructure, underfunded K-12 education, and weak workforce development threaten to erode California's advantages in entrepreneurship, finance, and technology. Increasingly industrial biotechnology companies keep R&D but choose to build their next stage development facilities outside of California. A panel of state officials and industry representatives will discuss measures that California can implement to retain its competitive edge and to ensure that growth industries, such as industrial biotechnology, remain in the state.
