[Source: Angela Gonzales, Phoenix Business Journal] - A relatively new biotechnology networking group is proposing a merger with the Arizona BioIndustry Association, but so far it hasn’t gained any ground.
ThirdBiotech has been offering networking events for the past year, and last summer it created a research group to help biotech startups build their businesses. Founder Jeff Morhet wants to broaden the scope of the organization and merge with the Arizona BioIndustry Association.
“In this type of market and this type of economy, this is the way to be able to put together a movement that ensures the public and private sectors are working together and are focused on job growth and fueling the life sciences economy,” said Morhet, who also is president and CEO of InNexus Biotechnology Inc.
He has been corresponding in person and by e-mail and phone with AZBio President and CEO Bob Eaton as well as board members, but so far the association hasn’t expressed any interest in merging.
Because ThirdBiotech has not submitted a proposal in writing, the association won’t consider the merger, Eaton said.
“As always, AZBio remains open to collaborating with ThirdBiotech or any other organization if such a collaboration would advance the interests of our member companies,” Eaton said.
AZBio has about 120 dues-paying member organizations, while ThirdBiotech has about 300, charging $49 a year for individual membership dues.
AZBio charges annual membership dues based on the number of employees, ranging from $100 for a biotech company with one employee to $2,500 for a company with 200. The range for institutional members, such as universities and nonprofit organizations, is $100 for those with one employee to $1,000 for those with 50. Associate members — for-profit, nonbioscience companies — pay up to $3,000.
ThirdBiotech is beginning to offer annual sponsorships rather than membership packages to corporations, ranging from $500 to $10,000. Tiered sponsorships would include admission to a certain number of ThirdBiotech events, recognition on the organization’s Web site and other benefits.
“We have not received any specific proposals for any kinds of collaborations or anything else,” Eaton said. “If we do, our board will review it and decide how they want to deal with it.”
Morhet said he is frustrated because he has sent numerous e-mails outlining his proposal, and has sat down with board members to discuss the matter.
“I still keep that hope open,” Morhet said. “Given what’s happening in our economy, there’s no better time for people to think outside their own organizations and find ways to collaborate and move our overall movement forward.”
In an e-mail response to one of Morhet’s requests, Mike Mobley, chairman of AZBio and associate director of The Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University, wrote: “AZBio has always been open to collaborations that will advance the interests of our more than 120 member organizations. However, recognizing the disparity between the resources, membership and affiliations of AZBio and ThirdBiotech, the AZBio board would not be inclined to consider the integration of AZBio into ThirdBiotech at this time.”
Mobley’s e-mail went on to invite ThirdBiotech to become a dues-paying member of AZBio.
When Mobley was contacted for comment on this story, Eaton responded on behalf of the board.
Despite the association leadership’s desire to remain separate organizations,
AZBio board member and Flinn Foundation Vice President Saundra Johnson said she applauds ThirdBiotech’s commitment to the state’s biotech industry.
“The group brings diverse talents and resources to the table that can make a difference,” she said.
AZBio was created in 1997 as the Arizona Bioindustry Cluster. It changed its name in November 2003, and in July 2005 it secured a three-year grant from The Flinn Foundation to support its statewide educational outreach efforts.
Johnson said Flinn is considering a second round of financing for AZBio.
Its first president and CEO, Jon McGarity, who declined to comment, left the association in May 2007 to run a biotech company. Eaton took his place in October 2007.
In February, the association merged with the Bioindustry Organization of Southern Arizona in Tucson, creating a statewide association. The group offers mixers, workshops and advocacy, as well as purchasing power via its affiliation with the national Biotechnology Industry Organization.
Morhet said the state’s growing biotech industry could benefit from merging the two organizations, rather than duplicating services.
ThirdBiotech’s research group is working with venture capital groups to connect them with biotech companies in Arizona.
“Companies need to be fueled with investments,” Morhet said. “We want to find ways to connect Arizona-based companies with investors.”
Arizona BioIndustry AssociationFounded: 1997 (as Arizona Bioindustry Cluster)President and CEO: Bob EatonHQ: PhoenixMission: Seeks to unify, empower and advance its member organizations, which collectively form Arizona’s bioscience communityMembers: 120 companiesdues: Range from $100 to $3,000 a year, depending on the size and scope of the businessWeb: www.azbio.org
ThirdBiotechFounded: 2007President and CEO: Jeff MorhetHQ: ScottsdaleMission: Started as a networking group; now includes ThirdBiotech Research Group, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote the development of science, technology and intellectual property to drive the formation, advancement and growth of Arizona-based biotech companiesIndividual Members: 300Annual dues: $49Corporate sponsors: 12Web: www.thirdbiotech.com
Showing posts with label ABA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ABA. Show all posts
Friday, November 14, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Arizona bio biz groups merge
[Source: Michelli Murphy, Arizona Daily Star] - The regional groups aimed at advancing Arizona's biosciences industry have come together to form one statewide entity.
The Tucson-based BioIndustry Organization of Southern Arizona, known as Bio-SA, has merged with the Phoenix-based Arizona BioIndustry Association, called AZBio, and a new board of directors has been selected.
The AZBio board includes representatives from Northern, Central and Southern Arizona, and is headed by paid staff members — Bob Eaton, president and CEO, and Natascha Hebell-Fernando, chief operating officer.
The effort to integrate the groups began last summer, said Michael Cusanovich, Bio-SA president and AZBio a board member.
Past efforts have failed because they would have turned Southern Arizona into an outpost while focusing on growth in the Phoenix area, Cusanovich said.
The new structure is a partnership, giving all three groups equal say, he said. "We finally discovered a model that works."
AZBio now has three regional chapters, based in Flagstaff, Phoenix and Tucson. Each is responsible for promoting local biotech growth and will continue to host events for area companies.
AZBio has about 110 members, but that number will continue to rise as companies renew memberships, Eaton said.
It will rise much more after all the Bio-SA members are included, Cusanovich said.
Bio-SA has 75 to 80 members, which renew their yearly memberships based on the month they joined. Because AZBio processes renewals each January, not all the former BIO-SA members have been officially included.
"It's a transition period. By January, everything will be set," Cusanovich said.
The new structure will allow Arizona's biotech associations to "operate in a unified way to provide advocacy for the industry," Eaton said.
The initial board is made up of three representatives from Northern Arizona, six from the greater Phoenix area and six from Southern Arizona.
The board also can include up to six at-large members. Saundra Johnson, executive vice president of the Flinn Foundation, is the only one currently elected.
In 2002, the Flinn Foundation commissioned the Battelle research group to create Arizona's Bioscience Roadmap, a 10-year plan to accelerate biotech-industry growth.
The foundation's latest progress report highlights substantial gains for the state's biotech industry.
From 2002 to 2006, bioscience employment grew 18.5 percent. That translates to an additional 12,600 jobs, creating a total of 80,909 jobs.
In the same period, wages of bioscience workers increased 25 percent for an average annual salary of $48,674.
The number of bioscience establishments also grew, rising from 639 to 745, an increase of 16.6 percent.
Biotech growth should accelerate with the merger of the state's biotech groups, said Bob Hagen, Southern Arizona Tech Council chairman.
More can be accomplished when the state speaks with a unified voice, said Hagen, whose organization is an umbrella group for the local tech clusters.
Allowing Bio-SA to maintain its regional presence makes the merger a "win-win situation," Hagen said.
● Contact NASA Space Grant intern Michelli Murphy at 573-4197 or at mmurphy@azstarnet.com.
The Tucson-based BioIndustry Organization of Southern Arizona, known as Bio-SA, has merged with the Phoenix-based Arizona BioIndustry Association, called AZBio, and a new board of directors has been selected.
The AZBio board includes representatives from Northern, Central and Southern Arizona, and is headed by paid staff members — Bob Eaton, president and CEO, and Natascha Hebell-Fernando, chief operating officer.
The effort to integrate the groups began last summer, said Michael Cusanovich, Bio-SA president and AZBio a board member.
Past efforts have failed because they would have turned Southern Arizona into an outpost while focusing on growth in the Phoenix area, Cusanovich said.
The new structure is a partnership, giving all three groups equal say, he said. "We finally discovered a model that works."
AZBio now has three regional chapters, based in Flagstaff, Phoenix and Tucson. Each is responsible for promoting local biotech growth and will continue to host events for area companies.
AZBio has about 110 members, but that number will continue to rise as companies renew memberships, Eaton said.
It will rise much more after all the Bio-SA members are included, Cusanovich said.
Bio-SA has 75 to 80 members, which renew their yearly memberships based on the month they joined. Because AZBio processes renewals each January, not all the former BIO-SA members have been officially included.
"It's a transition period. By January, everything will be set," Cusanovich said.
The new structure will allow Arizona's biotech associations to "operate in a unified way to provide advocacy for the industry," Eaton said.
The initial board is made up of three representatives from Northern Arizona, six from the greater Phoenix area and six from Southern Arizona.
The board also can include up to six at-large members. Saundra Johnson, executive vice president of the Flinn Foundation, is the only one currently elected.
In 2002, the Flinn Foundation commissioned the Battelle research group to create Arizona's Bioscience Roadmap, a 10-year plan to accelerate biotech-industry growth.
The foundation's latest progress report highlights substantial gains for the state's biotech industry.
From 2002 to 2006, bioscience employment grew 18.5 percent. That translates to an additional 12,600 jobs, creating a total of 80,909 jobs.
In the same period, wages of bioscience workers increased 25 percent for an average annual salary of $48,674.
The number of bioscience establishments also grew, rising from 639 to 745, an increase of 16.6 percent.
Biotech growth should accelerate with the merger of the state's biotech groups, said Bob Hagen, Southern Arizona Tech Council chairman.
More can be accomplished when the state speaks with a unified voice, said Hagen, whose organization is an umbrella group for the local tech clusters.
Allowing Bio-SA to maintain its regional presence makes the merger a "win-win situation," Hagen said.
● Contact NASA Space Grant intern Michelli Murphy at 573-4197 or at mmurphy@azstarnet.com.
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