Already a member?
Sign in.
About the Regional Economic Symposium
Our regional Economic Symposium on the bio-based economy following the Power Breakfast (click here for information about the Breakfast and keynote speaker Adam Bly) will bring together key players in the areas of industrial biotechnology, agri-foods, and life sciences. Results from the symposium will be used to produce a summary that will help drive the Southwestern Ontario bio-based economy. The symposium will run as three concurrent panel discussions from 10:15am to 1:30pm as outlined below. Participants may register for one session only. The symposium will conclude with a lunch and wrap-up session where discussion chairs will provide an overview of the identified opportunities, key findings and recommendations to move forward.
Power Breakfast and Economic Symposium Agenda
7:15am Registration
7:45am Breakfast
8:15am Formal Power Breakfast Program
Includes keynote presentation by Adam Bly
9:45am Networking and Session Muster
10:15am Regional Economic Symposium
Session 1: Industrial Biotechnology
Session 2: Agri-Foods
Session 3: Life Sciences
11:45am Lunch
12:30pm Symposium Summary
1:30pm Symposium Wrap-Up
Session One: Industrial Biotechnology
Canada has what it takes to be a global leader in the emerging bio-economy by fully leveraging our unique combination of natural and renewable resources, chemical processing capabilities, research and innovation, manufacturing, and access to markets. The Industrial Biotechnology panel will look at what it will take for Canada to assume a leadership position within this sector.
Topics for discussion will include: industry led efforts to commercialize bio-based materials and attract new investment, developing the next generation of bio refineries as well as venture funding for industrial biotechnology projects.
Moderator: Murray McLaughlin, President & CEO, Sustainable Chemistry Alliance
Panelists:
Session Two: Agri-Foods
Food security, health, energy and the environment – the scope and importance of agriculture is continually expanding. Biotechnology is an integral element in the industry’s future. This panel will look at the potential for agricultural biotechnology to change the industry and affect society.
Topics for discussion will include: the role of agricultural biotechnology for farming today and in the future, the convergence of ag biotech and information technology as well as the promise this sector has for the biotech industry as a whole and for society.
Moderator: David Sparling, Chair of Agri-Food Innovation and Regulation, Richard Ivey School of Business
Panelists:
Session Three: Life Sciences
In recent years there has been increasing convergence between biotechnology and medical device and drug platforms. There is growing optimism that these converging technologies will hold great promise for healthcare delivery, yet the path is not clearly laid out nor easy to navigate. This panel will discuss the convergence that we are seeing between biotechnology and these technology platforms as well as identify trends and opportunities within the industry and speak to the regulatory hurdles impacting them.
Moderator: Mickey Milner, President & CEO, The Health Technology Exchange
Panelists:
Please note: tables for this event seat 10 people.
rtraction