Money and how to obtain it will be one of the themes of this year’s BioPort Atlantic Conference, which will take place at Halifax’s Westin Nova Scotian hotel on October 9 and 10.

“Putting more focus on money reflects what we’re hearing from our members,” said Marli MacNeil, CEO of BioNova, the group behind the annual conference. “We’ve just finished a major survey of the industry and a look through the questionnaires reveals that pretty much everyone’s number one challenge is accessing money, whether it’s attracting investment or funding for research.”

BioPort Atlantic is the premier annual life sciences industry event in Atlantic Canada. Since 2002, the event has helped the life sciences community develop their ideas, commercialize their technologies and build links within the region and with overseas guests.

This year, how to obtain funds and gain access to markets will be the focus of a panel discussion. Speaker Barbara Fox of Boston’s Avaxia Biologics will also tell attendees how she raised significant funds for her company, but only after talking to more than 100 potential investors.

The changing life sciences industry requires the region's innovators and entrepreneurs to be creative and courageous and this is reflected in the conference’s general theme of ‘Bold Ideas for Big Opportunities’, said MacNeil.

As well as financing, the program will feature presentations and panel discussions on getting innovation into the healthcare system, on student researchers heading to commercialization and on life after exit. The keynote speaker will be Annabelle Volgman, one of America's leading cardiologists and medical director of the Heart Centre for Women at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

MacNeil said the event will be attended by VCs from Toronto and Montreal and Boston.  In fact, the Massachusetts area is providing a number of speakers and investors this year. MacNeil said the historical link between Atlantic Canada and the Massachusetts region had been dormant, but the life sciences sector in New England is booming and links are growing, thanks in part to the Canadian Consulate in Boston, which has organized successful Canadian expats in the Boston area to support entrepreneurs back home.

“We’re working at building on those connections with regard to capital and mentoring and expertise,” said MacNeil. “Our companies will have a ready group of friends on the other side of the border.”  

BioPort will also host the finals for the annual BioInnovation Challenge pitching event, which for the first time will include companies from New Brunswick. BioNova has teamed up with its sister organization in New Brunswick, BioAtlantech to expand the program and four NB companies were selected as semi-finalists. The winner will take away a $35,000 prize, which includes a $15,000 seed investment and $20,000 in professional services. The top three pitchers from the semi-finals, which will be held on October 9, will present at BioPort (the audience will get to vote this year!)  The winner will be announced before the conference closes on October 10.

Life sciences industry veteran Robert Orr will be the honorary chairperson of BioPort Atlantic 2013 and will deliver the opening plenary address.

“The goal of the conference is to inform and inspire and leave attendees feeling energized to tackle the next year,” added MacNeil.