New Coalition Brings Life Science Education, Workforce Training and Entrepreneurship to the National Stage

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Forty-one state bioscience organizations announce today the formation of the Coalition of State Bioscience Institutes (CSBI) to ensure America’s leadership in bioscience innovation by delivering industry-led life science education, workforce development and entrepreneurship programs through a nationally coordinated effort. The announcement came during the 2012 BIO International Convention, the industry’s global event for biotechnology that is hosted by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO).

“To continue innovation we need to attract excited, bright young people to biotechnology, as well as train American workers for life science careers and support biotech entrepreneurs”

“CSBI is leveraging resources across the United States and speaking with a united voice for the biotech industry on life science education, workforce development and entrepreneurship,” said CSBI acting co-chair, Lance Hartford, executive director MassBioEd. “We focus on programs that the life science industry is uniquely positioned to deliver and can be replicated across many states and scaled-up nationally.”

“To continue innovation we need to attract excited, bright young people to biotechnology, as well as train American workers for life science careers and support biotech entrepreneurs,” said Angela Kreps, KansasBio CEO and a founding CSBI member. “By bringing our individual state-level programs into CSBI, we are building a stronger, collective reach - on behalf of and to benefit the life science industry - to students, teachers, workers and entrepreneurs.”

Currently, CSBI is identifying leading state programs for national consideration. These programs include teacher-training initiatives such as iBIO Institute’s TalentSparks!; workforce competitiveness programs including Oregon Bioscience Association’s BioPro and BIOCOM Institute’s BioCollaborative; and BayBio Institute’s Expert Network resource for entrepreneurs. CSBI is also designing a web-based clearinghouse of all current state-level programs focused on life science education, workforce training and entrepreneurship.

Working together since December 2011, CSBI serves as an umbrella for standard practice sharing joint fundraising and national initiatives for life science (STEM) education (student education, career exploration and teacher professional development); workforce development (workforce training, incumbent worker professional development, dislocated worker training); and entrepreneurship. CSBI provides the opportunity for state bioscience organizations to share knowledge with the goal of improving bioscience education and innovation, while maximizing industry support. With its focus in these areas, the CSBI complements the life science policy work of the Council of State Bioscience Associations (CSBA), formed by BIO in 2002.

CSBI founding organizations include BayBio Institute, BIOCOM Institute, the Biotechnology Institute, iBIO Institute, KansasBio, MassBioEd, MdBio Foundation and the Oregon Bioscience Association. Forty-one state bioscience organizations are CSBI members (see below list) with nine additional groups expected to join. CSBI is co-chaired by BayBio Institute executive director Lori Lindburg and MassBioEd executive director Lance Hartford. The Biotechnology Institute serves as CSBI’s administrative organization. By partnering, CSBI members bring unprecedented access to programs, facilitate national communication, and connect an extensive network of industry professionals. CSBI is supported with funding provided by Human Genome Sciences.

ABOUT THE BIO INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION

The BIO International Convention will highlight the latest trends and the newest opportunities for executives, investors, scientists, policy leaders, and media from around the world. Speakers at the sessions will share breakthroughs in medicine, diagnostics, the environment, energy production, business operations, financing, partnerships, policy issues and food and agriculture. The Convention also features the BIO Business Forum, a unique platform for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, academic research institutions, and investors from around the world to gather and discuss strategic opportunities. For registration, conference agenda and exhibitor information, visit 2012 BIO International Convention.

Members of the Coalition of State Bioscience Institutes (CSBI)

Arizona BioIndustry Association

BayBio Institute

Bio Nebraska Life Sciences Association

BioNJ

BioOhio

BIOCOM Institute

BioFlorida Institute

BioForward

Bioscience Association of Maine

Bioscience Association of West Virginia

Biotechnology Institute