Travelling to the world’s largest biotechnology event, where there were more than 19,500 visitors in attendance, was not all plain sailing for a number of members of the North Rhine-Westphalian (NRW) delegation this year. But that was all forgotten when the trade fair began on 3 June 2024 at the San Diego Convention Center.

In the spirit of this year’s motto (“Making the impossible possible”), more than 19,500 participants and 1,400 exhibitors from 70 countries came together from 3 to 6 June 2024 to discuss the latest on business, innovation, and market access for new innovations.

The bustling activity and in-depth exchanges could also be seen at the NRW joint exhibition stand. BIO.NRW has been presenting the NRW biotech scene in the USA for many years now, giving start-ups and young companies from NRW the opportunity to participate in what is the most important international partnering convention in the biotech sector. In addition to a conventional exhibition area at the joint exhibition stand, the companies that went along had the option of taking part in the Exhibitor Booth Partnering format. A separate booth at the exhibition stand provided the opportunity for a confidential exchange over coffee and cold drinks. This opportunity was actively taken up by all exhibitors.

The fact that more companies and start-ups from NRW successfully presented themselves at the BIO International Convention this year than ever before serves to underline the success of this trade fair participation concept. Taking part this year were:

Attyloid GmbH (Düsseldorf)

BioThrust GmbH (Aachen)

D + B Rechtsanwälte Partnerschaft mbH (Düsseldorf)

DNTOX GmbH (Düsseldorf)

Ningaloo Biosystem GmbH (Cologne)

Numaferm GmbH (Düsseldorf)

Phytowelt Green Technologies GmbH (Nettetal)

Plümat PLÜMAT Maschinenbau Vertriebs GmbH (Espelkamp)

Priavoid GmbH (Düsseldorf)

Profil Institut für Stoffwechselforschung GmbH (Neuss)

Spectral Services AG (Cologne)

With these 11 companies, we were able to present a wide range of NRW expertise in the field of life sciences to our guests at the exhibition stand. As part of the German Pavilion, the NRW joint exhibition stand was organized by the biotechnology network for NRW, BIO.NRW, in cooperation with BIO Clustermanagement NRW GmbH and NRW.Global Business GmbH.

A major highlight of the intensive exchanges at this year’s trade fair was once again the almost legendary NRW Biotech Networking Reception. On Tuesday evening, BIO.NRW and BIO CM NRW, together with Rentschler Biopharma SE, FGK Clinical Research GmbH, YUMAB GmbH, and InSCREENeX GmbH welcomed international guests and friends of biotechnology to the wonderful 207 Bar at the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego.

This type of informal exchange provides an additional opportunity to make new contacts and find partners for projects, cooperation, and funding.

Image source: BIO.NRW