Next Week’s BioPartnering Event to Be ‘Networking on Steroids’

By Anthony Birritteri, Editor-in-Chief On Sep 30, 2020

Biotech companies from New Jersey, the surrounding region and across the globe, plus academic institutions, investors and industry service providers will be meeting virtually at BioNJ’s 10th annual BioPartnering Conference on October 6 and 7. The event’s goal is for attendees to seek business relationships that “will result in future medical innovations and people gaining access to more therapies … all because of this little meeting we are running here in New Jersey,” says BioNJ Founding President and CEO Debbie Hart.

The virtual format of the two-day event delivers a “cornucopia of possibilities,” says Hart. “We are delivering networking opportunities on steroids. Not only can you go into the system and schedule a meeting with someone who is literally on the other side of the world, ​[but] you can also connect with anyone participating in the conference, whereas at a live hotel venue, you would probably catch someone by chance in a hallway. In this case, you can send a note to anyone within the system. This creates a tremendous new potential for making important connections.”

In addition to the virtual power networking, 40 companies will make presentations over the two-day period. Approximately 27 startup companies will make shorter pitch presentations. Additionally, 15 academic institutions will be presenting.

The title of this year’s event is “Navigating Unprecedented Global Uncertainty​,” ​with Hart explaining that while there have always been global uncertainties impacting the life sciences industry, the COVID-19 pandemic has made it even more so.

Johan Van Hoof, M.D. of Janssen (a division of Johnson & Johnson), will give a keynote address discussing the company’s COVID-19 vaccine, which is now in stage three clinical trials. “We will hear how J&J has approached development of the drug. We hope there will be opportunities for others to learn from this,” Hart says. “We hope that long after COVID-19 is gone, clinical research and trials continue to be done via expedited processes without cutting corners. This is the critical message we are trying to make sure is understood: That despite the fact that we need a vaccine ‘yesterday,’ all of the important processes to ensure safety and efficacy must continue to be followed.”

Panel discussions on start-up strategies and partnering, plus an industry economic outlook and overview are planned, as well a virtual exhibit hall featuring life science industry service providers.

Co-sponsors of the BioPartnering Conference include JP Morgan and Johnson & Johnson Innovation. New Jersey Business magazine is a media sponsor.

Those interested in participating can register for the event at https://bionj.site-ym.com/events. Hart recommends registering early so that attendees have time to schedule private Zoom meetings and connect with potential partners. Though the event runs from Oct. 6-7, actual one-on-one meetings run from Oct. 5-8.

To access more business news, visit NJB News Now.

Related Articles: