Bio 2005

Some of you attended BIO 2005 in Philadelphia last month to position your area as a location for bio business development. It was a good show from the personal reports I've heard. My question is: "What does good mean?" How do you define the results or benefuts of trade and industry show participation?

If you plan to participate in industry and trade shows, you should:

1. Set clear objectives in what you want to accomplish.

2. Do your homework, who who will be there, and set appointments well in advance.

3. Build the right team to represent your area. Make certain that you have the knowledge and connections you need on your team.

4. Work on prompt and effective follow-up on all qualified leads. Be creative in how you handle your follow-up.

Note: I am not overly impressed with trade and industry shows as a source of business attraction leads, but I believe they can be useful in learning more about a target industry and particular companies. They can also help you make contacts in the industry, which will help with later marketing efforts.

Click here to read about the highlights of the show. Here are a few early highlights:

About BIO 2005

-BIO 2005 is the world's largest biotechnology gathering, taking place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, June 19-22.

-The last time BIO's annual convention was in Philadelphia in 1996, it attracted about 3,701 attendees.

-BIO 2005 has broken several BIO convention records:

With 1,525 exhibiting companies and organizations, this is the largest number of exhibitors ever.
With the Exhibit Hall sold out, this is the third largest exhibit space the convention has seen.

18,000 attendees are expected at BIO 2005 ? more than the 17,015 record attendees at BIO 2004 in San Francisco.

-For the first time, BIO 2005 hosted a Chief Scientific Officer Boot Camp.

-BIO 2005 and its attendees are expected to pump $38 million into the Philadelphia economy.

-Long-term, the convention is expected to generate more than $100 million of economic growth (licensing, research, collaboration, investments, etc.) for the region's economy.

-BIO 2005 is hosted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the State of Delaware, and the State of New Jersey.

Attendance Figures:

-18,679 attendees

-18,000 total attendees expected

-More than 6,000 attendees are expected to be international

-48 states are expected to be represented

-61 nations are expected to be represented

-24 patient and medical health advocacy groups will host displays at BIO 2005