Troy, N.Y. - Executives from eight area biotechnology firms will discuss their businesses and the state of the industry in the Capital Region at the "Showcase of Local Biotechnology Companies" on Wednesday, Sept. 17 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in room 324 of Rensselaer's Darrin Communications Center. To encourage networking among business leaders and students, Rensselaer's Severino Center for Technological Entrepreneurship will host half-hour receptions before and after the forum.

Executives at the showcase will provide corporate overviews, and outline plans for new products and company growth. Albany Molecular Research, AngioDynamics, Applied Robotics, Drug Risk Solutions, General Electric Global Research, MindGenix, Solidus Biosciences, and Therion International will participate.

"The companies are all involved in some groundbreaking technologies - like genomics, robotics, catalytic chemistry, or molecular imaging, for example," said Shreefal Mehta, research assistant professor of biotechnology management in Rensselaer's Lally School and the event's organizer. "This showcase is a great opportunity for biotechnology job-seekers to explore the options in the Capital Region and meet some important local players. It's also a fitting start to the Biotechnology Management and Entrepreneurship Seminar Series, which aims to provide insights to students and executives on how to successfully grow their careers and companies in the biotechnology industry."

The Sept 17. event is the first in the 2003-2004 Biotechnology Management and Entrepreneurship Seminar Series sponsored by Rensselaer's Lally School of Management and Technology and the Severino Center. All seminars will take place in Rensselaer's Heffner Alumni House from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Each will begin and end with half-hour networking reception.

The series is being co-marketed by Rensselaer's Alumni Relations office, the Center for Economic Growth, and the New York Biotechnology Association, with support from the Rensselaer Biotechnology Student Association. The events are free and open to the public.

The schedule for the remaining dates in the series is as follows:

Wednesday, Oct. 1, room 324 of Rensselaer's Darrin Communications Center-"The Role of Scientists and Engineers in Innovation Management," John Capek, president of vascular intervention at Guidant Technologies and Bioabsorbable Vascular Solutions

Tuesday, Oct. 14-"A Transition from Technologist to Businessman," Ravi Bhatkal, vice president of strategy and planning for AgIon Technologies

Tuesday, Nov. 18-Michael Goldberg, CEO of Emisphere Technologies

Wednesday, Jan. 28-Ron Kudla, executive director of intellectual property, technology transfer, and new ventures for Rensselaer

Wednesday, Feb. 18-Meirav Chovav, managing director of the UBS Warburg Healthcare Investment Research Group
Wednesday, Mar. 10-To be announced
Monday, April 5-Jim Frates, CFO of Alkermes

For more information, go to the series' Web site at http://scte.mgmt.rpi.edu/bioentrepseries.

About the Severino Center
Established in 1988, the Paul J. '69 and Kathleen M. Severino Center for Technological Entrepreneurship helps foster a new generation of budding and successful entrepreneurs through outreach programs, education and research. Centered in Rensselaer's Kenneth T. and Thelma P. Lally School of Management and Technology, the mission of the Severino Center is to integrate the educational and research programs by exposing every Rensselaer student to the practice and principles of entrepreneurship; infuse the fundamentals of entrepreneurship throughout the Rensselaer curriculum; extend Rensselaer's leadership and national prominence in technological entrepreneurship; and enhance the synergy between entrepreneurship and information technology. For more information: http://scte.mgmt.rpi.edu/.

About Rensselaer's Lally School
Rensselaer's Lally School of Management and Technology was founded in 1963 as an integral part of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the nation's oldest technological university. Rensselaer's Lally School is dedicated to advancing business through innovation. Its curriculum is designed to produce entrepreneurial leaders who combine creative passion with the ability to integrate technology across business functions. Lally School faculty members emphasize the value of hands-on experience available through campus resources such as the Severino Center for Technological Entrepreneurship and a world-class Business Incubator. Rensselaer's Lally School offers graduate and undergraduate degree programs in management, doctoral programs in management and technology, an Executive MBA program, and a joint Sino-U.S. MBA for companies operating in China. For more information: www.lallyschool.rpi.edu.

Contact: Caroline Jenkins
Phone: (518) 276-6531
E-mail: N/A