Patrick to tout Mass. biotech in San Diego

Governor Deval L. Patrick at last year's Biotechnology Industry Organization conference in Boston. (Charles Krupa/Associated Press/File 2007)

In a sign of Governor Deval L. Patrick's continuing effort to lure biotech companies to Massachusetts, Patrick plans to attend the industry's biggest trade show in San Diego in June.

Last year, the Biotechnology Industry Organization conference was held in Boston, giving the state a high-profile venue to showcase the region's booming cluster of life sciences companies, top academic research centers, and prestigious teaching hospitals. Even though this year's conference will be held on the West Coast, Massachusetts economic development officials hope to again use the event to tout the state's growing biotech cluster, which many see as key to the economy. The San Diego convention, scheduled for June 17-20, is ex pected to draw more than 20,000 attendees and 2,200 companies from 70 countries.

"This is the biggest biotech convention in the world, so we need to have a good presence," said Peter Abair, economic director for the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, an industry trade group. "We generated a lot of excitement last year - there are still people talking about it - and we want to carry that momentum forward to this convention."

In particular, Patrick used the 2007 conference at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center to unveil his $1 billion life sciences proposal, which would set aside money to build academic research centers, train workers, and help life sciences companies expand in the state. Both the Senate and House have approved versions of the bill and are now haggling over the final details. But it is widely expected that the initiative will be signed in the next month, giving Patrick something to boast about at this year's event and a powerful new tool to encourage biotech companies to expand in Massachusetts.

"The bill is a signal to a number of life sciences companies of the governor's office commitment to the life sciences industry," said Daniel O'Connell, the state's secretary of Housing and Economic Development.

Kofi Jones, the agency's spokeswoman, said the biotech convention will give Patrick the "opportunity to showcase the tremendous progress his legislation has meant for the state."

In addition to the governor's appearance, the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council said, the state's pavilion in the San Diego convention center will be larger than California's exhibit, with more than 4,000 square feet and space for 40 to 60 companies.

But Massachusetts will also face competition from other states. Nearly three dozen states, ranging from Oklahoma to New Jersey, have rented space at the convention. And as many as a dozen governors - including California's Arnold Schwarzenegger and Georgia's Sonny Perdue - are planning to court biotech companies.

"They are great ambassadors on behalf of their states," said Patrick Kelly, vice president of state government relations for BIO, the trade group running the convention.

Todd Wallack can be reached at twallack@globe.com.

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