The Northeastern US is one of the world's major hubs of biotech and pharma activity - both in terms of research and commercialization.  Yet the various constituencies who fuel innovation in the field, from venture capitalists and angel investors to scientists and partnership executives, have few opportunities to make new high-level connections and discuss vital issues together.

Convergence fosters real debate and discussion among an audience that is every bit as high-level as the speakers.  It provides an opportunity for attendees to make important new contacts, do business, explore important new directions in research, delve deeply into what it takes to maintain competitive advantage in a fast-changing world, and leave feeling recharged.

Mission - Bring together high-level life sciences players from around the Northeast to discuss and debate the most pressing topics of interest to the industry - topics like forging strong corporate partnerships; attracting funding from private and public sources; building successful research organizations; streamlining product development and approval; understanding the coming convergence of biology, software, and medical devices; and staying ahead of regulatory changes.

What Makes It Different - This is an event that will deliver a rapid-fire stream of ideas, advice, lessons-learned, and important insights - not a parade of 15-minute company presentations. It's not an investor's conference, and it's not an event for people looking for jobs - it's a gathering designed for people who make news and build companies in the life sciences field.

Audience - Biotech executives and company founders; heads of R&D; chief business officers; venture capitalists; investment bankers; and partnership execs at pharmaceutical companies.

Takeaway - Participants will exchange ideas with industry leaders, develop useful connections with colleagues from around the Northeast, and lay the foundation for future business dealings.

Our "Off-the-Record" Policy

Convergence asks those of its participants and moderators who are journalists or bloggers to adhere to our "off-the-record" policy.

What does "off-the-record" mean, in our definition? You are certainly free to report on or blog about conversations that you have with other conference participants, assuming that they understand that your conversation may end up in print or online. You are free to blog your impressions of the event, and your responses to the ideas presented. But we ask that when it comes to particular things said on stage, you don't paraphrase or directly quote Convergence speakers -- unless you ask for and receive their permission after the session.

Candid and honest dialogue is a long-standing tradition of the conference. Convergence sessions are known for their open nature, and that is something that we continue to encourage. At same time, we ask journalists/public observers/bloggers/commentators et al to respect the wishes of conference attendees by doing them the favor of asking their permission for attribution.

A limited number of press passes are issued each year, and by accepting a press pass to the event, the conference organizers expect that the recipient will adhere to this policy.

Nantucket Conference on Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Launched in 2000, the Nantucket Conference on Entrepreneurship & Innovation, www.nantucketconference.com, is an annual sold-out gathering of the New England region's most influential high-tech entrepreneurs, executives and investors.  Speakers at the Nantucket Conference have included Lotus founder Mitch Kapor; Motorola CEO Ed Zander; Celera Genomics founder Craig Venter; 3Com Corp founder Bob Metcalfe; Dan Bricklin, co-inventor of the spreadsheet; and Forrester Research CEO George Colony.  Supporters of the program have included Bingham, McCutchen, Ernst & Young, and Silicon Valley Bank.

Future Forward:  The New England Technology Summit
Future Forward, www.futureforward.com, brings together New England's forward thinking corporate technology decision makers with the region's top entrepreneurs who are delivering ground-breaking technology. Future Forward gives CIOs and other C-level executives a snapshot opportunity to learn about what's in the pipeline for new technology and it gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to learn more about the key challenges facing today's executives in large corporation. Past participants have included John Watkins, CIO of Fairchild Semiconductor, Terry Connor, CIO, Liberty Mutual, Doug Schwinn, CIO, Hasbro, George Colony, CEO of Forrester Research, Helen Greiner, co-founder and Chairman of the Board of iRobot and Marina Hatsopoulos, CEO of Z Corp.  Supporters of the program have included Deloitte and Touche, Microsoft and Nixon Peabody.