Each year, TechAlliance hosts this regional component of National Biotechnology Week - a week designed to showcase and introduce Canadians at large to the outstanding capacity that our country has for biotech research, discovery and development. In London, Biotech Week is a community-wide celebration of our life science and biotechnology community and is the only week dedicated to the world-class companies and institutions that call the city home.

London Biotech Week 2011 will take place September 16-23. Highlights of the week will include:

Future of Food: bioCEP3
(Biotechnology, Crops, Education, Policy, Production and Perception)
Tuesday, September 20, 8:45 am - 4:30 pm
The Convergence Centre (999 Collip Circle), London, On

Hosted by the Pest Genomics and Plant Breeding in Sustainable Agricultural Pest Management Group at the University of Western Ontario in partnership with TechAlliance, this one-day event will bring to light and facilitate discussion on burgeoning issues and topics in food biotechnology, including genetic crop development and modification. The audience will include university and college faculty, researchers, students, industry representatives, government and members of the agricultural community. The goal of this interactive workshop is to bring together stakeholders from all sectors of the food production industry to discuss current issues and future opportunities.

Click here for more information and to register.

BioBus to Stanton Farms
Wednesday, September 21 

This invitation-only event is an opportunity for municipal, political and academic leaders to tour a state of the art biotech facility of interest and importance to our region. In early 2010, the Ontario government invested $2.5 million for the completion of a biogas demonstration facility at Stanton Farms, which was developed in collaboration with The University of Western Ontario, the University of Guelph and the University of Waterloo. Using their unique biogas system,  the farm can produce 300 kilowatts of electricity and has the capacity to ramp up production to 1.3 megawatts, enough power for the town of Ilderton (where the farm is located) or more than 800 homes.  Participants will be picked up at City Hall in London, taken by bus to the facility for a private tour, provided with a light lunch and then returned to City Hall.

BIOlympics
Thursday, September 22 

This interactive event is designed to engage senior elementary students and get them excited about the world of biotechnology. BIOlympics involves teams of grade 7 and 8 students paired with community leaders, competing in fun biotech-related challenges.

Teachers please click here to register your school

Secondary School Biotechnology Awareness Campaign
Throughout the week 

This initiative provides high school teachers the opportunity to invite seasoned industry experts into their classroom(s) during Biotech Week. These individuals have volunteered to share their experiences with local students and inviting them into the classroom brings together industry, educators and students for a chance to learn about London’s dynamic and innovative life sciences community. These speakers provide information that stimulate interest and encourage students to pursue studies and careers in the life sciences and biotechnology.

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Community Partners

Industry Partners

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