As I began preparing myself for three days of serious conferencing here at BIO, I looked through some of the packet material the organizers put together for us media folk and found some interesting stats:

• The last time the Biotechnology Industry Organization put on its annual meeting in Boston (in 2000), it brought out 10,292 attendees. This year, that number is expected to double to 20,000+.

• Exhibit floor space has increased from 68,490 square feet to 200,000.

• The number of countries represented on the floor was 16 in 2000. This year, more than 60 will be here.

• R&D investment in 2000: $14.2 billion. In 2005: nearly $20 billion.