Georgia BIO Innovation Summit 2019

By Dawn Price, Industry Engagement Manager

The Center of Innovation for Information Technology recently participated in the Georgia Bio Innovation Summit which focused on “Empowering the Patient” in the areas of BioPharma, MedTech, and Digital Health. The Georgia Bio Innovation Summit is the state’s premier bioscience and medical technology conference and the high level of content was led by keynote speaker UCB BioPharma CEO Jean-Christophe Tellier who echoed the Summit’s focus points in their remarks.

“We must connect better together and build connected systems. By connecting healthcare, we will break down silos and create an environment that supports initiatives.” 

Tellier went on to add regarding digital health and the medical community’s approach to clinical trials, “We must be able to ‘be with’ patients after they leave the healthcare facility. We must connect patients with an understanding of the clinical trial procedure. We have to think with the patient in mind instead of clinical outcomes.” 

The Summit also featured Fireside Chats – panels with various experts ranging from executives, scientists, physicians, and government officials to health entrepreneurs and communicators. The overriding sentiment heralded technology and its usage with regards to industry and patient data as well as patient access to information to inform themselves about their own care. 

Care providers also spoke about the imbalance of technology in the Patient-Physician relationship. Physicians are overwhelmed with the amount of data and there is a need for balance.

Breakout sessions were divided into four tracks: The Future of Georgia, Business Growth, Biopharma and Drugs, and Medical Device and Digital Health. Topics centered on Cybersecurity, Policy Issues, Talent Engagement, and Starting/Growing Successful Life Science companies. 

Overall, the 2019 Georgia Bio Innovation Summit delivered in its mission to engage the state’s life science community in order to better position itself to provide long-term solutions to the questions and circumstances that impact its citizens. 

The Georgia Centers of Innovation (COI) can assist life science companies to facilitate business innovation. No matter the industry sector or company size, the Centers of Innovation are the state’s leading resource to help companies translate new ideas and technologies into commercially viable products and services to better compete in the global marketplace. From the assistance of five centers, this economic catalyst, in turn, promotes the continued growth of the state’s economy. Through our leading technical industry expertise, research collaborations, and business partnerships we’ll help your business connect, compete, and grow.