Washington D.C. -
Photograph of Governor Vilsack visiting the University of Iowa CBB booth in Iowa Pavilion.

Although industrial - or white -biotechnology is a relatively new approach to product manufacturing, it can achieve significant environmental and economic advantages over traditional manufacturing processes, according to a report released today at a BIO 2003 press conference in Washington, D.C."With record attendance, international media coverage, a keynote speech by President Bush and an unprecedented number of U.S. and foreign government leaders, BIO 2003 closed today with a new level of recognition of the contributions biotech has made to human health and the U.S. economy," said Carl B. Feldbaum, president of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO).

The CBB participated in the trade show at BIO 2003 at Washington DC from June 22 to June 25. More than 16,000 attendees from 55 countries and 47 states took part in the four-day conference, which included more than 1,000 speakers discussing business development, science and regulatory affairs, global health, bioethics and patient advocacy. The exhibit hall featured more than 1,000 exhibits.

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

President Bush delivered a keynote speech. In addition to President Bush, several other high-ranking government leaders were present at BIO 2003, including Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Mark B. McClellan, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.). Additionally, nine U.S. state governors were in attendance at the conference seeking to attract biotech development to their states.

CBB’s participation was under the University of Iowa’s booth in Iowa pavilion. There were thirteen booths by Iowa companies in Iowa pavilion. Governor Vilsack visited University of Iowa booth and asked several questions about the cGMP facility need and applications. Several biotech companies have shown interest in CBB’s cGMP fermentation and purification facility. Vilsack arrived at the BIO 2003 convention with a significant enticement for biotech companies - a new $503 million business development fund. "That's the future of our state," Vilsack told reporters at the Biotechnology Industry Organization's annual convention.