Biotechnology & Life Sciences

Madison, WI, is a powerhouse for biotech and life sciences, making it the perfect destination for your next industry meeting. As part of a designated Regional Tech Hub for biohealth and home to world-renowned research institution University of Wisconsin–Madison and cutting-edge biotech companies, Madison offers an environment where innovation thrives.

Peers Who Brought Their Meetings Here

American Society of Biomechanics
American Society for Virology
Cognitive Science Society
UW Health Public Affairs
American Society of Animal Science

Number of Speakers

Save on speaker costs and tap into the talent at University of Wisconsin–Madison, a top ten research institution. UW–Madison's Badger Talks program features 100 expert speakers in the biological sciences and 9 speakers specializing in biotechnology. For a full list, and to request a speaker, visit Badger Talks.

Notable Achievements

Nobel Prize geneticist Joshua Lederberg founded the Department of Medical Genetics at UW–Madison and discovered sexual reproduction of bacteria
Nobel Prize-winning biochemist Har Gobind Khorana synthesized the first gene at UW–Madison
Biochemist Harry Steenbock was a professor of biochemistry at UW–Madison and spurred the solution to rickets by biofortifying food
Fred Blattner, long-time professor of genetics at UW–Madison who is now an emeritus professor, deepened understanding of lethal strains of E. coli
Microbiologist Jo Handelsman, director of the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery at UW–Madison, pioneered the field of metagenomics
The world's first laboratory-derived human embryonic stem cells were successfully isolated at UW–Madison in 1998 by Dr. James Thomson, a professor in the School of Veterinary Medicine
Stool-based DNA test Cologuard, a revolutionary resource in cancer detection, was developed by Exact Sciences in Madison

Notable Numbers

UW–Madison ranks #6 among US universities in research expenditures for the fiscal year 2023, surpassing $1.7 billion in research spending — National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics
More than 11,200 employees in the biotech and life sciences industry

Major Employers

Promega
Covance
Exact Sciences
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Pharmaceutical Product Development
GE Healthcare
Cellular Dynamics
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals
Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation

Building the Future of the Industry

Approximately 9,000 industry-related degrees per year in the region

Explore More

Madison Region Economic Partnership
Wisconsin designated as Regional Tech Hub for biohealth
Madison's life sciences market larger than expected

Submit an RFP

Interested in bringing your biotechnology or life sciences meeting to Madison? We can't wait to work with you to create the perfect event. Submit your RFP here.