TBA The Biotechnology Initiative

The Voice of Bioscience in Ontario



TBI Survey Results – What TBI is doing to serve its members better for a new and improved TBI

TBI members stress that enhanced networking opportunities is one of the main issues when it comes to TBI events. This was concluded by information gathered from a TBI online survey meant for its members, which took place April 16-May 11, 2007.

The purpose of the survey was to improve TBI, from the information acquired, to better serve its members. Requests to complete the survey were sent twice to 40 corporate, 119 individual and 61 lapsed members’ email addresses.

TBI executive director Bill Laidlaw said TBI is aware of their member needs based on survey input to have their networking events geared to issues of the day in the biotech world. “These events must be relevant and have opportunities to both learn and meet people that will advance opportunities for further connections and exchange of ideas,” he said. “They want interesting venues where our members can meet and interact with people that will help them grow their businesses and their careers. TBI will provide that venue in our programs in the upcoming year.”

So, out of the 220 requests TBI received 80 responses, but not every respondent answered all 12 questions in the survey. From the survey 61 of 79 respondents were current TBI members and 10 were current TBI student members. TBI members valued survey questions based on a scale of 1 (no value) to 5 (high value). It should be noted that 55% of respondents voted 5 when responding that enhanced networking opportunities should be the primary focus of TBI to retain the respondents’ membership support. Also about 74% thought professional networking should be one of TBI’s training priorities in 2007.
The TBI survey then suggested pub nights (three to four a year), wine tasting events and cross-sector luncheons and speakers as possible new TBI events to help enhance networking opportunities. Cross-sector luncheons and speakers had received a fairly high response on the value scale. A respondent commented by saying TBI should offer fewer events with higher quality, as well as TBI collaborate with other organizations so they are not always the sole host of their events.

As for TBI’s current events, their Monthly Breakfast Meetings rated quite high with 35% voting 5. These breakfast meetings, generally held in the downtown core, are run 10 times per year between January to June and September to December. The Annual Presidents Awards Gala is held in mid-February in downtown Toronto. TBI’s Annual Golf Tournament is held each year in August and usually sells out quickly. The last event, Research to Revenue Symposium, had high votes on the value scale as well.