WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today announces that Wednesday, May 5^th has been named International Day, and will include a special programming track on Global Biotechnology Issues. International Case Studies will be presented throughout the week on topics such as breakthroughs in molecular diagnostics, biomarkers, dementia and Alzheimer’s, and translational R&D.

Presentations and breakout sessions at the 2010 BIO International Convention will focus on research and development, partnership opportunities, and new business models required to meet global health challenges.

Also on Wednesday, editorial staff from Scientific American and other industry leaders will present Worldview 2010 and discuss the state of biotech hubs and innovation around the globe and present results of the study highlighting key international developments. The session will be moderated by Fareed Zakaria, author, journalist and host of CNN's Fareed Zakaria GPS. Scientific American's annual global biotech edition, Worldview 2010, enumerates the factors promoting and impeding biotech innovation on a country by country basis. An International Reception will follow.

The BIO Exhibition will feature countries from across the globe. Currently, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom round out the top ten countries in terms of expected attendance for 2010. Public officials from more than 16 countries are expected to attend. There will be 36 official delegations in attendance to promote the benefits of establishing operations within their countries. China, for example, plans a major presence at the Convention each year.

“China has an emerging bio-med and drug market, a strong policy environment, investment support for innovation by our government, and huge developmental potential due to comparative advantages in cost and efficiency,” stated a representative from the China Pavilion. “We will use our time at the 2010 BIO International Convention to meet with potential partners and hopefully bring new business back to China.”

The 2010 BIO International Convention is expected to draw between 15,000 and 17,000 industry leaders from 48 states and 60 countries.

For more information on the global event for biotechnology, including program and housing information, please visit http://convention.bio.org.