BioNJ, the trade association for New Jersey’s biotechnology industry, today announced names of the industry, financial and academic thought leaders who will participate in the unique fireside chat, Biotech in New Jersey…The Next 20 Years, that will be a key focal point of BioNJ’s 20^th Annual Dinner Meeting, Awards Program and Networking Event.

Growing in prominence with each year, BioNJ’s Annual Meeting will be held on Thursday, February 7, 2013, at the Hilton East Brunswick in East Brunswick, NJ, and will bring together executives of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, professional service providers, government officials, academic leaders and others for an evening of networking, business discussions and award presentations. More than 700 people attended the 2012 meeting.

Biotech in New Jersey…the Next 20 Years will feature: Dr. Robert L. Barchi, President of Rutgers, The State University; James C. Greenwood, President and CEO of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO); Robert J. Hugin, Chairman and CEO of Celgene Corporation; Mary C. Tanner, Managing Director, Peter J. Solomon Company; and Dr. Jesse I. Treu, Partner, Domain Associates. Wall Street Journal financial reporter Jonathan Rockoff will serve as moderator.

“While still relatively young compared to many other sectors, biotechnology is an innovation-driven industry that has already made significant contributions to healthcare and the economy,” said Debbie Hart, President and CEO of BioNJ, who noted that the biotech industry in New Jersey has grown from a handful of companies when BioNJ was formed in 1994 to more than 340 today with approximately 16,400 employees.

“With BioNJ entering its 20^th year and with so many critical changes looming, we thought it was important to mark this milestone by honoring the past and examining what the future holds for biotechnology in New Jersey and beyond,” Hart said.

BioNJ’s 20^th Annual Meeting will begin with a Networking Reception from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m., followed by the Dinner and Program from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. A Networking Dessert Reception will run from 10:00 to 10:30 p.m. For more information and to register, go to http://www.BioNJ.org/news/adm2013.

About BioNJ

BioNJ is singularly focused on advancing the growth and prosperity of New Jersey’s biotechnology cluster through advocacy initiatives directed at State and federal public policy issues and networking and educational programs that bring the community together. Founded in 1994 by New Jersey industry CEOs, the 300-member organization serves as the voice of biotechnology companies located in New Jersey, seeks to promote their economic growth and development and works to encourage new and established companies from around the world to locate to New Jersey. BioNJ represents companies engaged in biopharmaceutical, biomedical, bioagricultural and bioremedial endeavors.

To learn more about BioNJ, please visit www.BioNJ.org [2].