ANN ARBOR—The importance of small companies in Michigan’s life sciences industry will be the focus of a University of Michigan public symposium being held from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Feb. 8 in the Michigan League Ballroom [directions].

Designed for small, emerging and established life science companies and their investors, “Life Sciences: An Industry in Transition” will address research and development alliances, the successful management of collaborative partnerships, and options relating to business strategy.

The conference will feature a pair of industry-leading keynote speakers: Erling Refsum of Nomura International, who will discuss “Big Pharma and the New Biotech,” and Alison Taunton-Rigby of Forester Biotech, who will talk about “Companies in Transition.”

In addition, three panel discussions will be included: “Business Reality: Lessons Learned in Biopartnering”; “‘Spawning’ Michigan Biotech Startups: Linking Academia, Industry and State”; and “The Partnering Perspective from Michigan Biotech Startup Companies.”

The symposium is sponsored by the U-M Business School‘s Samuel Zell and Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, the U-M Life Sciences Institute, the U-M Office of Technology Transfer and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

To register to attend or for more information, consult the Zell-Lurie Institute Web page at www.zli.bus.umich.edu or contact the Institute at (734) 615-4419 or at zlicontact@umich.edu.

directionsBusiness Schoolwww.zli.bus.umich.edu