Austin Technology Council Announces Next Wave Forum: Growth of Life Sciences in the Austin Area

Austin Technology Council (ATC) is broadening its scope as a platform for discussion and debate to include fundamental issues related to life sciences in Austin. To achieve this action objective, ATC will hold its first forum designed to propound Austin’s tough life sciences questions.

(PRWEB) June 19, 2006 -- Austin Technology Council (ATC), a member-driven association focused on promoting the growth and success of Austin's technology sector, is broadening its scope as a platform for discussion and debate to include fundamental issues related to life sciences in Austin.

To achieve this action objective, Austin Technology Council will hold its first forum designed to propound Austin’s tough life sciences questions, including, “What are the real possibilities for the Life Sciences in Austin?”. The Next Wave Forum: Growth of Life Sciences in the Austin Area to be held June 20, 2006, at the MCC Auditorium on 3925 West Braker Lane, will feature a distinguished panel of speakers from leading Austin area organizations.

Speakers:
Craig Benson, President & CEO, Rules Based Medicine
Jack D. Hart, Assistant Chairman, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin
Richard J. Hawkins, Chairman & CEO, LabNow
Scott Hunicke-Smith, VP and General Manager, Asuragen Discovery and Clinical Research Services

Moderator
Tom Kowalski, President Texas Healthcare & Bioscience Institute

Life sciences companies face critical business challenges in containing costs, complying with a myriad of government regulations and sustaining an effective R&D organization to produce a robust product pipeline. In addition, customers are demanding better and more effective products and a tougher regulatory environment means new product introduction processes and portfolio management are more critical than ever. Austin has seen a growth in the Life Sciences arena; this Next Wave session will provide an in-depth understanding of the marketplace, mentors and local perspectives.

Agenda:
7:45-8:15am breakfast
8:15-9:45am panel discussion and Q&A
9:45-10:30 networking

“Austin has proved time and again that we have the ability to cluster innovative activity to succeed on a scale necessary to ensure technology sustainability in our region,” said Alisha Ring, President, Austin Technology Council. “We cannot discount the power of the life sciences. We will hold a total of four Next Wave Forums in 2006 that place focus on this extremely important technology sector.”

Milken Institute recently included Austin in its ranking of the nation’s top 12 biotech and life science centers, in company with such powerhouses as San Diego, Boston and the Research Triangle. Today, Austin boasts over 100 companies in the medical product, pharmaceutical or bioscience areas.

About Austin Technology Council
The Austin Technology Council is a professionally managed, member-driven non-profit association of Central Texas businesses and organizations working together to promote and enhance the growth and success of Austin’s technology sector through education, networking, mentoring, jobs, economic development, funding, and political support.

The Austin Technology Council is the only organization that exclusively represents the interests of the technology community in Central Texas. As such it is dedicated to helping technology companies in Central Texas grow and thrive through education, networking, mentoring, jobs, economic development, funding, and political support for area technology entrepreneurs and executives, and the service providers that support the industry. ATC represents hundreds of members and maintains its dedication to developing the Austin community into a world leader in technology.

For more information please visit www.austintechnologycouncil.org.

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