BIO Continues Partnership with NIH for Fifth “Innovation Zone” Exhibit

SBIR-funded companies will showcase biotechnology
breakthroughs at BIO 2019 International Convention

WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Biotechnology
Innovation Organization (BIO) and the National
Institutes of Health (NIH) today announced an agreement to feature
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)-funded early-stage biomedical
companies in an Innovation
Zone at the 2019 BIO
International Convention. The Innovation Zone companies, focused on
drug discovery, diagnostics and other therapeutic platform technologies,
will have dedicated exhibit space and participate in BIO’s
One-on-One Partnering™ system. Select companies will make 15-minute
company presentations in the BIO Business Forum.

“The theme for this year’s Convention sets a perfect tone for the
Innovation Zone: It Starts with One. One idea, one vision, one sleepless
night – that’s how breakthrough medicines and technologies are first
imagined, and that’s why our partnership with NIH to sponsor companies
focused on early stage R&D is so important,” said BIO’s President
and CEO, Jim Greenwood. “Joining us this year will be 80 SBIR-funded
companies, all of which have the potential to produce cutting-edge
technologies that could change the way we manage the world’s most
devastating diseases. I look forward to learning from these emerging
biotech innovators and helping them commercialize their potentially
game-changing technologies.”

The SBIR program provides U.S. federal funding to small businesses
engaged in research and development with the potential for
commercialization. Companies are rigorously vetted through the NIH SBIR
peer review process prior to receiving the funding.

“NIH strongly believes in supporting innovative and breakthrough life
science technology development through the SBIR program. The BIO
International Convention continues to be an ideal place to highlight our
companies. The SBIR companies showcased in this year’s ‘Innovation Zone’
show some of the most promising technologies in our portfolio that we
hope will achieve commercial success and significantly advance and
improve human health. In order to achieve these goals, these companies
require critical partnerships and capital. I encourage attendees to meet
with our companies and explore the featured exhibitors and
presentations,” said Dr. Matthew Portnoy, NIH
SBIR/STTR program manager.

The majority of participating companies in the BIO Innovation Zone have
received SBIR Phase II awards, which provide $1 million+ dollars or more
in funding to engage in R&D that has the potential for commercialization.

Advance media registration is available for qualified reporters working
full time for print, broadcast and web publications with valid press
credentials. To register, please visit here.

About BIO

BIO is the world’s largest trade association representing biotechnology
companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and
related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other
nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of
innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental
biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO
International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the
biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and
partnering meetings held around the world. BIOtechNOW
is BIO’s blog chronicling “innovations transforming our world” and the
BIO Newsletter is the organization’s bi-weekly email newsletter. Subscribe
to the BIO Newsletter.

About the National Institutes of Health Small Business Programs

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Small Business Innovation
Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs (https://sbir.nih.gov/)
are one of the largest sources of early-stage capital for biomedical
technology commercialization in the United States. In Fiscal Year 2019,
these programs will invest over 1.1 billion dollars into health and life
science companies that are creating innovative technologies that align
with NIH’s mission to improve health and save lives.

Contacts

Andrew Segerman
202.747.1281
Web:
www.bio.org
Blog:
www.biotech-now.org
Twitter:
@IAmBiotech