FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 4, 2010, 2:00 p.m. CT

CONTACT

Jen Rae Hein, Gov’s Office, 402-429-4701

Ashley Cradduck, Gov’s Office, 402-471-1970

Sharon Stephan, NU, 402-472-7554

Amy Recker, BIONebraska, 402- 616-9162

Gov. Heineman & NU President Milliken

Attend BIO International Trade Show

(Chicago) Gov. Dave Heineman and University of Nebraska President James B. Milliken today visited with attendees of the 2010 BIO International Convention. A Nebraska delegation led by the Bio Nebraska Life Sciences Association has taken part in the event for several years now.

The BIO trade show is the world’s largest biotech gathering, attracting 20,000 attendees annually. It features presentations from global biotechnology leaders and highlights the latest biotech innovations, emerging biotech companies and research institutions.

“Nebraska has a growing segment of our economy consisting of specialized companies in the biosciences field,” Gov. Heineman said. “These are the high tech, research-driven fields producing advanced biofuels, pharmaceuticals developed for humans and animals, robotics, and testing tools used in research labs around the world. Being a part of this event provides us an opportunity to highlight Nebraska’s investments in bioscience.”

A recently released study indicates employment in Nebraska’s bioscience sector grew by more than 19 percent between 2001 and 2008, outpacing national employment growth of approximately 16 percent during the same time. The study noted that Nebraska’s bioscience industry paid wages that were 50 percent higher than the average annual private sector wages in 2008.

President Milliken said, “The University is actively seeking partnerships with the private sector that leverage our expertise in areas such as water, energy, agriculture and the life sciences, and medical research. Each of our four campuses brings strengths in innovation and technology development that represent opportunities for collaboration and partnership. Initiatives like Innovation Campus, which will bring higher education, government and the private sector together for research, innovation and economic development will help Nebraska attract new and expanding business investment.”

The Nebraska pavilion at the 2010 trade show features representatives from the state’s academic and research institutions, technology transfer entities and business recruitment organizations. Visitors can sample flat iron steaks, which is a beef cut developed by researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and other partners.

The bioscience industry is generally considered to include four sectors: agricultural feedstocks and chemicals; drugs and pharmaceuticals; medical devices and equipment; research, testing and medical laboratories.

Data released Monday by BIO showed Nebraska has strong concentrations in the agricultural feedstocks and the medical devices categories. In addition, Nebraska’s academic research and development in the biosciences is above the national average.

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