Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) creates co-opportunity for the Colorado life sciences community. Last week, CBSA’s President and CEO Jennifer Jones Paton presented at a session of The ACE 13 event hosted by CBSA member Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies in Lakewood. The Americas Competitiveness Exchange (ACE) is the premier economic development, innovation, and entrepreneurial network of the Americas and is one of the leading high–level events of the Organization of American States (OAS). This month, the ACE program introduced sixty leaders from others countries to Colorado by showcasing our innovation and business climate.

Rebecca Bortolotti, Senior Vice President, Legal and General Counsel, Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies and Cynthia Hougum, Senior Vice President, Global Plasma Business & QA/RA Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies kicked off the event introduced the company as the global leader in blood component and explained how they are advancing health care worldwide.

Jones Paton moderated a panel, Colorado’s Competitive Advantage: Building a Collaborative Life Sciences Ecosystem, to demonstrate the successful collaboration of the Colorado life sciences community and dive into the business climate that keeps companies successful.

The panel featured Frank Corbin, VP, New Venture Technologies, Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies, Ethan Mann, Ph.D., M.B.A., Chief Executive Officer, Validus Cellular Therapeutics, Inc., CBSA Board Member and Colorado BioScience Institute Board Member, and Tanya Warnecke, President and Chief Technology Officer, Artisan Bio, CBSA Board Member.

The discussion offered insights into the landscape of Colorado’s growth. Corbin, Mann, and Warnecke discussed leadership and business pitfalls and learning through mistakes. All three leaders emphasized the importance of the partnerships and collaboration that keeps their companies in the state and continues to support their innovation.

The ACE delegates presented Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies with an award at the conclusion of the session and thanked them for giving hope to humanity through their work.

CBSA is grateful to our partnerships and supportive community. Thank you to Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies for hosting the ACE event and inviting CBSA to participate in articulating the life-saving technologies and innovation coming out of our state to the delegates. Thank you to the panel members for your time and leadership at this event. Thank you to all the Terumo employees that made this event possible.