Russian-American Innovation Technology Week (RANIT) is designed to bring together entrepreneurs, scientists, venture capitalists, and established corporations within the American and Russian technology communities. RANIT, organized by the Mid-Atlantic - Russia Business Council (MARBC) and Innovation Philadelphia, and supported by the Baker & McKenzie and Select Greater Philadelphia, is the most significant event in the Mid-Atlantic region devoted to Russian-American technology and business cooperation. Based on the success of past events, RANIT is now held twice a year, and it includes an even greater number of regional technology events, seminars, panel discussions, roundtable meetings, trade shows, conferences, and networking events. This year, the 4^th RANIT will highlight biotechnology and will conclude with participation in the world's largest biotechnology exhibition, BIO 2006 in Chicago. The Russian delegation that will take part in the 4^th RANIT-BIO will consist of representatives from the best Russian companies in biotechnology and related industries.

RANIT-BIO will begin in Philadelphia on April 7 - 8, 2006

Special events at RANIT-BIO in Philadelphia include a welcoming ceremony in the Mayor's Reception Room at Philadelphia City Hall on April 7th, seminars with members of biotechnology associations in the Mid-Atlantic region and venture capital funds specializing in biotechnology, and an "Invention to Venture" workshop. In 2006, RANIT will also include events held in celebration of the 300-year anniversary of the birth of Benjamin Franklin, the first American member of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Two circumstances have made biotechnology cooperation between Russia and the Mid-Atlantic states particularly attractive. First, the Russian government has moved to create a "National Program for the Development of Biotechnology in Russia in 2006-2015". Second, governments in the Mid-Atlantic region have enacted favorable policies that have further enhanced the region's standing as a leader in the field of biotechnology. It is within this context that the Mid-Atlantic Russia – Business Council has made Russian-American scientific and technical cooperation in biotechnology one of its top priorities. MARBC has facilitated American participation in several of the most significant biotechnology conferences and events in Russia, including the upcoming Biotech World, the Moscow International Conference "Biotechnology and Medicine", and the International Congress "Biotechnology: State of the Art and Prospects of Development".

The key and concluding event of the 4^th RANIT will be

BIO 2006

April 9 – 12, 2006

In Chicago at the McCormick Place Convention Center, South Building

BIO is the world's largest and most impressive exhibition and conference

for experts in the field of biotechnology

At the BIO 2005 exhibition and conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1525 expositions by companies, academic institutions, state centers of biotechnology, and other organizations from all 50 states and 56 countries were presented. Within the framework of the exhibition, 180 plenary sessions were organized in which more than 900 speakers shared their expertise. In four days of exhibition, 18,730 specialists took part in BIO. More than 500 journalists from 36 countries covered the exhibition, and 14 press conferences were held.

Russian participation in BIO 2005 in Philadelphia was one of the most important aspects of MARBC's undertaking to build a bridge between the Russian and American biotechnology communities. The Russian business program at BIO 2005 was organized in the context of the Semi-Annual Russian-American Innovation Technology Week (RANIT), and included a Russian mini-pavilion (#2757) and the participation by members of the Russian delegation in various events at BIO 2005. For additional information about Russian participation in BIO 2005 please visit:

http://www.bio.org/events/2005/international/CountryProfiles.pdf, http://www.ma-rbc.org/event/050618-bio-news.pdf, http://www.bio.org/events/2005/programs/delegation.asp, http://www.ma-rbc.org/event/050618-bio.html

As it did last year in Philadelphia, the Mid-Atlantic – Russia Business Council will be serving as the official organizer of the Russian delegation to BIO-2006 in Chicago. MARBC will again present Russian biotechnology companies and organize a Russian mini-pavilion with an exposition on the achievements of Russian scientists and manufacturers in biotechnology and related industries. During the first day of the conference on April 9, 2006, dedicated to international programs, MARBC will conduct a Country Seminar on Russia and a presentation of the Russian biotechnology industry as one of 15 presentations to be given by the national delegations of countries participating in BIO 2006. The Country Seminar will be held in Room S404D at the South Building of the McCormick Place Convention Center at 2:30. For information about Russian participation in BIO 2006 please visit:

http://www.bio.org/events/2006/intlatt/CountryProfilesNewsletter.pdf

http://www.bio.org/events/2006/intlatt/

http://www.ma-rbc.org/event/060406-bio.html

http://www.bio.org/events/2006/intlatt/delegations.asp

For additional information about participation in the 4^th RANIT-BIO please contact Val Kogan, Mid-Atlantic-Russia Business Council, by phone: (215) 708-2628, email: val@ma-rbc.org, or visit the MARBC website at: http://www.ma-rbc.org.

The key and concluding event of the 4th RANIT will be

BIO 2006

The key and concluding event of the 4^th RANIT will be