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	Courtesy Photo A basketball hoop proved to be a popular attraction at Frederick County’s exhibit at the BIO 2008 annual convention in San Diego, Calif., where participants used any number of gadgets and games to draw visitors.

Frederick city and Frederick County economic development officials promoted the county's biotech firms and made business contacts at the 2008 Biotechnology Industry Organization annual convention -- the largest conference of its kind.

The conference drew 20,108 industry professionals from 70 countries and 48 states to discuss and share the latest developments and pressing issues facing the biotech industry.

Frederick is home to the National Cancer Institute, Fort Detrick and more than 60 biotech companies. The city and county economic development departments shared a booth at BIO 2008.

"The BIO Convention allows us to not only highlight the significant growth that the life sciences industry has had in Frederick , but also provides us with an opportunity to talk to national and international prospects in one location," said Laurie Boyer, executive director of the Frederick County Office of Economic Development. "Having the city and county partner at this event allows us to have an even greater presence and make a stronger impact at a conference of this size."

Local companies, including, Dynport Vaccine, Charles River Labs, MedImmune, SAIC and the Frederick Innovative Technology Center were also represented at the conference.

Local representatives received a lot of interest from firms wanting to establish a presence in the U.S. or looking specifically at the Mid-Atlantic region.

"We secured several hundred business contacts and have already begun with follow-up communications," said Heather Gramm, a business development specialist in Frederick 's Department of Economic Development.

"We recognize the importance of supporting existing Frederick companies as well as recruiting new ones and BIO gives us the opportunity to do both," Gramm said.

The convention was the fourth year that the city and county have teamed up with dozens of businesses and state officials to market the local and state biotech community.

"With our strategic location along the mid-Atlantic corridor, Frederick is a natural consideration for those companies," Boyer said.

The county's economic development office has for the past few years been a sponsor of the Maryland Pavilion at the BIO conference, which covers the cost of booth space and exhibitor/attendees, as well as advertising presence on all of the state's promotional items, Boyer said.

Maryland made a big splash at the convention, said Richard Griffin, Frederick 's director of economic development.

"We were pleased that Gov. Martin O'Malley visited the Maryland Pavilion and the Frederick exhibit," Griffin said. "It meant a lot that the governor took time to participate in the conference, where he also announced his BIO 2020 Initiative to invest $1.1 billion in the Maryland Bioscience industry.

Griffin said he believes Frederick is well positioned to take advantage of state incentives for hi-tech business including at the county's tech incubator -- the Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc., and for additional mezzanine level lab facilities and nanotechnology.