The Biotechnology Innovation Organization's annual international convention, which last week attracted more than 20,000 attendees to Boston, is coming back to Philadelphia for a fifth time in 2027.

The industry trade group last held the BIO event in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in 2019. The convention — used by the local biotech community to promote its standing as a leading hub for cell and gene therapy with billboards proclaiming the region as "Cellicon Valley" — drew 17,300 people to the city and generated an economic impact of more than $41 million for the region.

In a statement, Washington, D.C.-based BIO called Philadelphia a "recognized leader" in research and development.

"The tri-state region offers a vibrant ecosystem of top pharma and biotech companies, universities, academic medical centers and research institutions," the organization said. "We look forward to showcasing the region’s incredible contributions to the industry.”

Philadelphia also hosted the BIO convention in 1996, 2009 and 2015. Future host cities for the event will be San Diego in 2024 and 2026. Boston will again play host in 2025. The convention was virtual in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic.

"We've had good experiences in San Diego and Boston and decided to go back and forth," BIO CEO Rachel King, told the San Francisco Business Times, a sister publication.

The annual BIO convention features an array of education sessions, partnering meetings, exhibitors, and speakers. This year's event, for example, has a record 57,000 partnering meetings along with about 800 speakers, 150 education sessions and 1,200 exhibiters from 65 countries.

Chris Molineaux, CEO of the statewide industry trade group Life Sciences Pennsylvania, said he was "absolutely delighted" to have the event coming back to Philadelphia.

He recently return from last week's convention in Boston and said the "event is back to its pre-pandemic energy and attendance."

Molineaux said the selection is also "an affirmation of Philadelphia's position as a leading hub for life sciences innovation and growth."

Bonnie Grant, executive director of PHL Life Sciences — a division of the Philadelphia Conventions and Visitors Bureau — calls the event the "premier convention for the life sciences industry" and notes the economic impact it will have for the local hospitality industry.

Grant noted PHL Life Sciences was on-site in Boston at this year's BIO convention to promote Philadelphia. "We distributed more than 1,300 cheesesteaks at the expo reception," she said.

Molineaux, like Grant, said the partnering sessions are the most important part of the event for companies. He said outside of the annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco in January, the BIO convention in the largest industry event that has partnering as a top priority.

"The opportunity for startup companies to get their technology in front of larger companies is critical, especially in today's funding climate," he said.

Molineaux said the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development funded space on the exhibit floor for the state and was managed by Life Sciences Pa. "We are hopeful the Shapiro Administration will provide support for 2027," he said. 

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