The state of Maryland will organise next month what is billed to be the largest biotech conference to match India's needs with American knowhow.

The Tech Council of Maryland (TCM) and the Maryland Governor's Office on American and Pacific Affairs announced Monday a partnership to organise the bio business development conference on June 16 to be held at the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville, Maryland.

Some 40 executives from India's booming biotech-industry and government will meet to discuss how their US counterparts can meet a pent-up demand for products and services such as biogenerics, vaccines, diagnostics, contract research, biotherapeutics co-development deals and much more, the announcement said.

"The India-US Business Development Conference will be the area's first tightly focused business meeting with the express purpose of matching Indian needs with American know how. In addition, India's biotech and government leaders will meet, collaborate, network and exchange business ideas and goals with their US counterparts," the announcement said.

"Our members from the bio and IT communities have a real opportunity to learn firsthand how their products and services can expand the biotech community globally," Julie Coons, TCM president was quoted as saying.

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) will send the leaders of Indian biotechnology and government to the conference.

Among those who have confirmed participation include Kapil Sibal, India's minister for science and technology and ocean development, Kiran Mazumadar-Shaw, chairwoman and managing director of BioCon India, Ltd., India's largest and most profitable bio company; Krishna Ella, chairman and managing director of Bharat Biotech International, Ltd and M.K. Bhan, secretary for the Department of Biotechnology,

The US participants include Aris Melissaratos, secretary of Maryland's Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED) and Pradman Kaul, chairman and CEO, Hughes Network Systems and chairman of Maryland's India Business Roundtable.

Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. has been invited to give the keynote luncheon address.