(WINSTON-SALEM) -- The Wake Forest University Schools of Business will host the 2011 Biotechnology Conference this weekend.  Participating universities include: Duke University, University of California Berkeley, UCLA, Harvard Business School, MIT, University of Texas, University of Virginia, and Wake Forest University.

The conference brings together some of the nation’s brightest minds in business, science, law, and medicine Feb. 18-19. It also features the case competition where student teams from around the country compete for $17,000 in prize money. The teams combine disciplines to develop a comprehensive solution to a current biotechnology business challenge.

“This an extraordinary opportunity for North Carolina, in that some of the brightest minds in the country will be presenting cutting edge solutions to problems that are impacting the state’s biotechnology industry,” said Erik Welker, an MBA student who co-chairs of the event.

The weekend will include networking sessions for students, sponsors and healthcare professionals. Student teams will also have the opportunity to take a tour of Targacept, Inc.