“Accelerating Innovation in 21st Century Biosciences:
Identifying the Measurement Standards and Technological Challenges”

October 20-22, 2008
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Administration Building (101)
Gaithersburg, MD

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute (UMBI) are co-hosting this international conference. The symposium and workshops are focused on identifying and prioritizing measurement, standards, and technology needs that represent barriers to innovation and impediments to achieving maximal societal and economic benefits of new discoveries in the biosciences.

Conference Description

Objective: To Identify and prioritize measurement, standards and technology barriers to the realization of optimal economic and broad societal benefit from new discoveries in the following focus areas:

Medicine ____________ improving health through measurement of complex biological signatures
Energy _____________   obtaining sustainable energy from biological sources
Manufacturing ________  obtaining higher quality products through better bioprocess measurements
Agriculture ___________ increasing yield, quality, & safety in the world’s food supply
Environment __________ understanding our planet through linking molecules to ecosystems
Closing the Gap _______ addressing overlooked challenges and needs

Download a PDF of all technical panel session descriptions and leaders.

Speakers are not included, but you can find confirmed speakers here.

Expected Outcome: A listing of measurement, standards, and technology needs to inform and guide research at NIST and the measurement and standards community worldwide.

Format: Plenary Symposium with lectures from visionary bioscience thought-leaders discussing future trends and measurement, standards and technology needs in the conference focus areas workshops to identify & prioritize measurement, and standards challenges impeding innovation in focus areas.

The conference will consist of a one-day Symposium of plenary presentations focused on bioscience-related areas with great potential for economic and overall societal benefit. Following the symposium, measurement and standards challenges representing significant barriers to innovation in each of the focus areas will be identified and prioritized through specific technical panels during the course of the multi-day workshop.

Participants: National and international experts from industry, academia, and government focused on the broad spectrum of measurement and standards needs in the biosciences.

Registration