DATE: October 05, 2007
CONTACT:
Matt Gevaert, (864) 656-6658
mrg@clemson.edu
WRITER:
Sandy Woodward, (864) 656-1220
sandra@clemson.edu
Biomedical Entrepreneurship Conference focuses on Upstate opportunities
CLEMSON — Creating and developing business opportunities in biomedicine is the focus of the third annual conference on Biomedical Entrepreneurship in Upstate South Carolina to be held Friday, Oct. 19, at the Westin Poinsett Hotel in downtown Greenville.
Led by the Clemson University Research Foundation (CURF) and Clemson University’s department of bioengineering, the program is geared toward professionals from across the biomedical, clinical and regulatory industries, as well as venture capitalists, academics, intellectual-property lawyers and technical entrepreneurs.
Michael Riordan, president and CEO of the Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center, will present the keynote address. Four additional guest speakers will discuss the vascular, orthopedic and pharmaceutical industries and the regional medical device industry. Additional sessions include an “entrepreneur’s toolkit,” a look at biomedical opportunities, presentations from local biomedical companies, group discussions on biomedical issues and a “Tips from the Trenches” presentation by a Clemson bioengineering graduate.
“The potential for growth in this very specialized industry segment is outstanding for South Carolina, particularly the Upstate area, because of the existing infrastructure and proven expertise in medical devices and biomaterials,” said Matt Gevaert, program organizer and CURF’s technology transfer commercialization officer for biotechnology and biomedical sciences. “We’re glad to work as a catalyst to explore that potential as we move our discoveries out of the lab and into the world.”
A mail-in or faxable registration form can be downloaded at www.clemson.edu/curf/biomedical.htm. Registration forms must be received by Oct. 12, and payment must be received by Oct. 16. The general registration fee is $75. For alumni, students and faculty of Clemson University, the fee is $50.
The conference is supported by sponsors Dority & Manning, P.A.; Needle & Rosenberg, P.C.; and SCLaunch!. For more information about the program or about biomedical entrepreneurship in the Upstate, visit www.clemson.edu/curf or contact Matt Gevaert at (864) 656-6658 or mrg@clemson.edu.
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About CURF: The Clemson University Research Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation that commercializes the intellectual property of Clemson University through technology transfer, licensing agreements and new venture formations. CURF also seeks to develop a strong research infrastructure through development and management of research properties, development of technology maturation and early-stage research grants and participation in sponsored research activities.
About the department of bioengineering: One of the oldest in the world, Clemson’s bioengineering program was established in 1963 and offers bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees. A pioneer in the field of biomaterials science and engineering, the department is consistently recognized for its leadership in biomaterials research and education.