Alabama targets life sciences as a growth industry in its statewide economic development efforts, be it recruiting established firms or fostering startups within the state.

Bob Hess.

The BIO Alabama Virtual Annual Conference will give these efforts attention in multiple sessions on Oct. 7 during the event Oct. 5-9. They include:

Corporate location strategy, site selection and bioscience economic development trends presented by the Alabama Department of Commerce and featuring Bob Hess. Hess is vice chairman of Global Corporate Services at Newmark Knight Frank and a recognized leader in corporate location strategy and site selection. Hess is scheduled to speak Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 10 a.m. with a focus on bioscience economic development.

State perspective on bioscience growth opportunities and trends fireside chat featuring Alabama Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield and EDPA CEO Greg Barker. Two of Alabama’s economic development leaders will deliver an informative discussion on Alabama’s growth opportunities and trends in bioscience. Canfield has served as the secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce since July 2011. Barker was named the new head of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama earlier this year and brings years of experience and expertise to the state’s leading private economic development organization. Together, Canfield and Barker will address the importance of the bioscience industry and how private and public initiatives will help further expand Alabama’s global impact. This conference session will be Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 11:45 a.m.

Greg Canfield.

Greg Barker.

BIO Alabama Strategic Economic Development Roadmap and recommendations for industry growth and sustainability featuring Blair King. King is chairman of BIO Alabama and Economic Development manager at Alabama Power. He will moderate a panel that includes:

• James Childs, BIO Alabama Startup and Tech Transfer Committee co-chair and partner at Maynard Cooper Gale.
• Jonathan Cox, BIO Alabama Workforce Development Committee chair and senior account manager at Aerotek Scientific.
• Saksham Narang, BIO Alabama Startup and Tech Transfer Committee co-chair and venture adviser at UAB.
• Amy Sturdivant, BIO Alabama Business Attraction and Retention Committee chair and director of business recruitment at HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology.

This panel discussion will take place Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 9 a.m.

Additional speakers, organizations and sponsors can be found on the official conference website. Event registration is open.