Welcome
Dear Colleagues,
It is with collective relief that we begin to see mounting evidence of economic recovery from what have been some truly challenging recent years. And yet, in many respects, we remain as much at a crossroads today as we were just a few years back during the darkest days of the financial crisis. The next "big idea" is something that all businesses and organizations continue to desperately seek, hoping that it will enable them to stay at least one step ahead of competitors who are coming from all directions, and who grow seemingly fiercer by the day.
The innovation gap confronting the life sciences industry, in particular, has been well-documented for years. Yet the thirst for scientific and technological advancements needed to fuel growth and progress remains unquenched. The theme of our 2012 Spring Meeting, "Licensing to Solve the Innovation Gap," speaks directly to this base need. Indeed, as licensing professionals, it is this need for innovation that defines the very core of our roles and mandates.
Over the course of two days in Boston, a unique opportunity exists for you to engage in a range of conversations on the subjects of innovation and licensing with some of the foremost thought leaders in the life sciences. Big picture discussions on the state of the industry, new models of innovation and collaboration, and unleashing the promise and value of scientific innovation will be the focus of our plenary talks. Done in an interactive format on our first day, participants will work in a roundtable format designed to facilitate dialogue and peer to peer knowledge sharing and learning. Multiple workshops and speakers addressing "hot topics," "issues du jour" and "headline deals" will round out the experience by providing you with the practical knowledge and tools needed to enable success in your everyday licensing work.
Of course, it would not be an LES event if it did not provide a networking experience like none other. Be sure to join us at both the welcome reception on May 15th and at the special networking event which will be held at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts on May 16th, and take advantage of the countless other networking opportunities throughout the meeting in order to catch up with friends, connect with colleagues and enable new business.
Boston is one of the unquestioned innovation hubs on the planet, and there is no better place to do business, to learn and to network. We ask you to come to Boston and join us at the LES Spring Meeting for what will be a meeting you simply cannot afford to miss.
Sincerely,
Mark Nawacki
Meeting Chair