When most people think about “Midwestern America”, they associate images of flat plains and sprawling farmlands, but surprisingly not many think of the incredible skylines of Chicago. Today “America’s Heartland” is evolving at an ever increasing rate. Not only was Chicago named the best city to live in by several magazines, but also the Midwest is emerging as one of the top global hubs for biomedical innovation – a healthy ecosystem for biotech research.

Within the heart of this ecosystem lies an incredible pool of talent, which has driven tremendous progress on fundamental research and applied life sciences. Their hard work and efforts have translated into numerous life-changing medicines. This is in large part a testament to the top- notch institutions in the area such as the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, University of Illinois, University of Wisconsin, University of Michigan , and Washington University in St. Louis, among many others that place immense emphasis on strong life-science related research. The surrounding large cap pharmaceutical companies such as AbbVie, Abbott, Baxter, and Eli Lilly contribute research muscle as well as business and management expertise, an essential foundation to this hub.

That being said, scientific accomplishments and large pools of talent are necessary but not sufficient in building an ideal ecosystem for the biotech community, particularly when compared to Boston and the Bay area. To attract early stage venture capital resources and foster an environment that supports innovative startups, we need to “Huddle for Warmth”. What that means is building in all the other factors required for fostering fast-paced growth and development to become the leading global hub for biomedical innovation. The academic institutions and industry researchers need to have a more interwoven, productive, and sustainable form of collaboration. We’re looking for more support from clinical research and development, regulatory affairs, business development, commercial/financial experts, and even a strong voice in the realm of government & politics. This conference attempts to dial in all the resources and connections to help generate the synergy which will fuel this wealthy ecosystem of scientific advancement. This would establish the framework to effectively translate groundbreaking discoveries to enviable assets that are attractive to capitals around the world, including China.