"Growing Bio in southern Minnesota" Conference

Opening Reception - May 21, 2008
5:00 – 8:00 p.m. The Hormel Institute, Austin MN

Join friends and colleagues at The Hormel Institute, a world-renowned state of the art research and educational facility right here in our backyard!  Here you will have a chance to network and learn more about this exceptional bioscience asset.

Conference – May 22, 2008
7:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Holiday Inn , Austin MN
(see agenda below)

Local and national speakers and panelists will provide ideas, information, and models to help you build your own bio business success.  The Exhibitor Hall will feature exhibitor showcases, information on biobusiness resources, and affinity groups to provide additional information for you to take home with you.

Registration

You can choose to register for both events or just one, however you will be charged one fee.
$50 - Early Bird Special (register before May 12)
$75 - Late Registration (register after May 12)

(Choose One)
To register for the Opening Reception and the Conference - Click Here
To register for the Opening Reception on May 21 only - Click Here
To register for the Conference on May 22 only - Click Here

Hotel Options:
Please call for your reservations directly and mention "Growing Bio" to receive a special conference discount. If you register by May 5 you can receive $10 off your hotel registration at either Holiday Inn or Days Inn.

Holiday Inn, Austin - Phone: 877-863-4780- $89 (register by May 5)
Days Inn, Austin - Phone: 507-433-8600 - $54.99 (register by May 5)

Conference Agenda

7:30 a.m.

Registration & Continental Breakfast

8:00 a.m.

Conference Welcome
Tim Penny, President/CEO, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation President
Tom Stiehm, Mayor, City of Austin

Opening Keynote

Mark Drabenstott, Director & Research Professor,
The RUPRI Center for Regional Competitiveness, University of Missouri-Columbia

Presentation: Southern Minnesota Goes to the Olympics:
The Ongoing Quest for Gold

Mark will lead us on an exciting journey exploring how we can create bio entrepreneurial success using the abundance of assets and opportunities that already exist.

9:15 – 10:30 am

Session One – “Pioneering Bioscience Innovators”
Did you know new partnerships are paving the way towards commercialization opportunities that are benefiting local communities?  This panel of pioneering innovators will share their models of success and help you understand how to replicate them.  What are the key ingredients needed? Where did they find them?

Guest Panelists:

Linda Meschke, President, Rural Advantage
Presentation: The Madelia Model- Growing Bio Communities

Forrest Izuno, Professor and Head, University of Minnesota Southern Research and Outreach Center
Presentation: Harvesting Economic and Social Vitality at the
Agriculture and Medicine Nexus: The IMAGE Experience

Gary J. Noble, President / CEO, DiaServe, Inc.
Presentation Title: Bio – A Look At The Other Side

Facilitator: Jonathan Zierdt, President, Greater Mankato Growth

Break

10:30 – 11:00 a.m.

Network with colleagues and visit Exhibition Hall

11:00 – 12:30 

Session Two – “Accentuating our Assets”
Did you know understanding and accessing local resources and knowledge will help further your community’s bio strategy? This panel of organizational leaders will help you find ways to advance bio-based projects in southern Minnesota . How do you get connected? What do you need to provide?

Guest Panelists:

Dr. Zigang Dong, Professor and Executive Director, The Hormel Institute
Dr. Ann  M. Bode, Professor of Research and Associate Director, The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota
Presentation: Driving Biobusiness and Bioscience Through Research

Randall Tlachac, Executive Director, Biotechnology Center at Elk Run
Presentation: Biotechnology Development- Key Elements for Economic Development

Jeremy Lenz, Vice President, The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota
Presentation: Biobusiness in Minnesota Today

Facilitator:  John Garry, Executive Director, Development Corporation of Austin

12:30 – 2:00 p.m.

Lunch and Keynote Address
Steve VanNurden, Chair, Mayo Clinic Office of Intellectual Property, Mayo Clinic

Presentation: Motivation for Innovation

Mr. VanNurden's presentation will focus on creating a culture to support innovation, including discussing our demographic landscape and keeping our eyes on industry and the marketplace.

2:00 – 2:30 p.m.

Conference Closing
Tim Penny

As part of its efforts to grow biobusiness within the region, SMIF is offering two $25,000 grants for collaborative planning efforts or projects that grow biobusiness within the region.  Tim will provide details and application information.