Category: Michigan
The Southwest Michigan Innovation Center (SMIC) is a life science business incubator with a plethora of regional assets helping early stage companies develop and grow in Kalamzoo with facilities and funding in partnership with The Southwest Michigan First Life Science Fund.1
The incubator is located in the Kalamazoo SmartZone on the Western Michigan University (WMU) Business Technology and Research Park (BTR Park) adjacent to the WMU College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 2 and after the recent expansion which opened this past summer,3 the facility has a combined total area of 58,000 square feet of office and wet lab space and provides comprehensive shared facilities and business services to early stage businesses.1
Up and Coming Companies & More Planned for Expo Emerging Biosciences Showcase
An excellent program is shaping up for the 3rd Annual Emerging Biosciences Showcase on Day One (Nov. 3) of the MichBio Expo. Check out these details:
9:00 a.m. International Spotlight: "Israel's Innovative BioMed Industry"
Emerging companies representing Israel's dynamic biomedical industry will present innovative technologies and showcase their latest research and companies during this special program addition.
10:30 a.m. VC Panel Discussion: "Capital Sourcing Your Bioscience Venture"
A discussion of alternative sources of funding from angel money to grants, SBA programs, pre-seed funds and more. Panelists:
Michael Kurek, Biotechnology Business Consultants
Liz Powell, G2G Consulting
Liam Ratcliffe, New Leaf Venture Partners
Skip Simms, Ann Arbor SPARK
(M) Ned Staebler, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
David Weaver, Great Lakes Angels
11:40 a.m. Company Presentations - Michigan's Shining Stars
AI Medical - Biotectix - CytoPherx - Metabolic Solutions - SciTech Development
12:30 p.m. Lunch and Keynote Address: "Developing New Cancer Therapies: Its about a LOT more than the science!" William Clarke, M.D., MSc, President & CEO, Celectar, Inc.
1:30 p.m. Company Presentations - Michigan's Emerging Start-Ups
Airway Therapeutics - Algal Scientific - Bauer Biomedical - Bio-Nano Power, LLC -
DataSpeaks, Inc. - In the Groove - Life Magnetics - Oakland Genetics -
Poly BioInformatics - Secretory IgA
3:45 p.m. VC Panel Discussion: "Investing in Michigan: Recipe for Success"
Follow the flow of money from Michigan's 21st Century Investment Fund to venture capital firms and finally to bioscience companies. How is success measured, and what additional activities are underway to create a better environment for entrepreneurs and investors in Michigan? Panelists
Greg Main, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
(M) Patrick Morand, Southwest Michigan First Life Science Fund
Robert Payne III, Credit Suisse
Charles Rothstein, Beringea
Mark Arizmendi, Northwestern Capital Partners LLC (invited)
5:00 p.m. MichBio Expo Opening Reception
Network with top leaders from Michigan's biosciences industry in the Exhibit Hall, where many of the day's presenters will have display tables to provide for further discussion and one-on-one conversations.
Call for Award Nominations
Don't forget to nominate your favorites for the annual 'Good to Great' and 'Innovator of the Year' awards. These top contributors will be honored prior to the keynote address on November 4, the second day of the MichBio Expo. Descriptions of each and the nomination form is available on the Expo website at www.michbio.org/expo. Please submit your nomination(s) (one form per nomination) by October 16, 2009.
Exhibitor Information Kit is now available for Download
Click here to download all the information you need to plan your exhibit. Haven't reserved your space yet? Sponsor and Exhibitor Prospectus Reserve your space now by contacting Jennifer Dickie at (734) 677-0503 or jennifer@michbio.org.
Sponsorship = Leadership
There are a few sponsorships still available that provide excellent visibility with customized benefits. Your ROI is our first priority! View Expo Packages
Be a Leader All Year Long! View Information on Annual Corporate Sponsorships
TechTown is a 40 acre redevelopment project in Detroit, Michigan home to the Wayne State University Research and Technology Park as well as its business incubation program that is aiming to revitalize the area. In early August TechTown was the location where Vice President Joe Biden announced the new battery program that will provide $2.4 billion for the creation of 6,800 jobs in the short run with a goal of 40,000 jobs in the next 11 years.
TechTown was formed in association with Wayne State University and acts as the center of business development for University spin-outs. TechTown provides the SmartStart business program that helps local entrepreneurs start businesses, find funding and market their companies to potential customers. TechTown also recently received Soft Landing International Incubator status from the National Business Incubation Association (NBIA), where foreign companies can locate and gain specialized assistance with entering and establishing themselves within the American market. TechTown is also affiliated with Microsoft BizSpark, a program that assists small companies with software, training, and visibility.
National Business Incubation Association (NBIA) www.nbia.org
TechOne is TechTown's premier business accelerator, the 100,000 square foot building offers wet lab space and office facilities for start-up life science, alternative energy, technology and general product and service companies. In addition to the wet lab resources, TechTown is home to an extensive biobanking community.
Mike Finney, CEO of Ann Arbor SPARK was on a panel with other speakers from industry Monday afternoon, for the Innovation Economy forum, hosted by the University of Michigan, at the newly renovated art museum. The Ann Arbor Chronicle reported today that the forum is a follow up to an event hosted 18 months ago and brought together members of the community and from within UM to talk about ways in which to partner. Mr. Finney spoke about connections between UM and businesses within the community. He said that Ann Arbor SPARK is a way to draw business to the city, and as a result of the program two thirds of the business drawn becomes associated with the university; asserting that there is a very direct connection between business within the city and UM. One of the efforts already underway at UM is the UM Business Engagement Center, which will foster and strengthen relationships between the city and UM. Ann Arbor SPARK is tasked with the mission of advancing the economic development of innovation based business in the Ann Arbor region by offering programs, resources, and proactive support to business at every stage, from start-ups to large organizations looking for expansion opportunities.
The Ann Arbor Spark Website www.annarborusa.org
Read Mary Morgan's article in the Ann Arbor Chronicle www.annarborchronicle.com/2009/05/12/innovating-out-of-an-economic-hole
*Updated 7/21/09
