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| <?xml version="1.0" encoding="windows-1252"?> |
| <ownershipDocument> |
| <schemaVersion> X0306 </schemaVersion> |
| <documentType> 4 </documentType> |
| <periodOfReport> 2020-01-01 </periodOfReport> |
| <notSubjectToSection16> 0 </notSubjectToSection16> |
| <issuer> |
| | <issuerCik> 0001123494 </issuerCik> |
| | <issuerName> HARVARD BIOSCIENCE INC </issuerName> |
| | <issuerTradingSymbol> HBIO </issuerTradingSymbol> |
| | </issuer> |
| <reportingOwner> |
| | <reportingOwnerId> |
| | | <rptOwnerCik> 0001400121 </rptOwnerCik> |
| | | <rptOwnerName> Green James W </rptOwnerName> |
| | | </reportingOwnerId> |
| | <reportingOwnerAddress> |
| | | <rptOwnerStreet1> C/O HARVARD BIOSCIENCE, INC. </rptOwnerStreet1> |
| | | <rptOwnerStreet2> 84 OCTOBER HILL ROAD </rptOwnerStreet2> |
| | | <rptOwnerCity> HOLLISTON </rptOwnerCity> |
| | | <rptOwnerState> MA </rptOwnerState> |
| | | <rptOwnerZipCode> 01746 </rptOwnerZipCode> |
| | | <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription> |
| | | </reportingOwnerAddress> |
| | <reportingOwnerRelationship> |
| | | <isDirector> 1 </isDirector> |
| | | <isOfficer> 1 </isOfficer> |
| | | <isTenPercentOwner> 0 </isTenPercentOwner> |
| | | <isOther> 0 </isOther> |
| | | <officerTitle> Chief Executive Officer </officerTitle> |
| | | </reportingOwnerRelationship> |
| | </reportingOwner> |
| <nonDerivativeTable> |
| | <nonDerivativeTransaction> |
| | | <securityTitle> |
| <value> Common Stock </value> |
| </securityTitle> |
| | | <transactionDate> |
| <value> 2020-01-01 </value> |
| </transactionDate> |
| | | <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate> |
| | | <transactionCoding> |
| <transactionFormType> 4 </transactionFormType> |
| <transactionCode> F </transactionCode> |
| <equitySwapInvolved> 0 </equitySwapInvolved> |
| </transactionCoding> |
| | | <transactionTimeliness> |
| <value></value> |
| </transactionTimeliness> |
| | | <transactionAmounts> |
| <transactionShares> |
| <value> 32959 </value> |
| <footnoteId id="F1"/> |
| </transactionShares> |
| <transactionPricePerShare> |
| <value> 3.05 </value> |
| </transactionPricePerShare> |
| <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode> |
| <value> D </value> |
| </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode> |
| </transactionAmounts> |
| | | <postTransactionAmounts> |
| <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| <value> 71631 </value> |
| <footnoteId id="F2"/> |
| </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| </postTransactionAmounts> |
| | | <ownershipNature> |
| <directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <value> D </value> |
| </directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| </ownershipNature> |
| | | </nonDerivativeTransaction> |
| | <nonDerivativeHolding> |
| | | <securityTitle> |
| <value> Common Stock </value> |
| </securityTitle> |
| | | <postTransactionAmounts> |
| <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| <value> 1430814 </value> |
| <footnoteId id="F3"/> |
| </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| </postTransactionAmounts> |
| | | <ownershipNature> |
| <directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <value> I </value> |
| </directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <natureOfOwnership> |
| <value> by James W. Green Revocable Trust </value> |
| </natureOfOwnership> |
| </ownershipNature> |
| | | </nonDerivativeHolding> |
| | </nonDerivativeTable> |
| <footnotes> |
| | <footnote id="F1"> The shares were disposed to satisfy the Reporting Person's tax withholding obligation in connection with deferred stock awards previously granted to the Reporting Person which vested in part on January 1, 2020. </footnote> |
| | <footnote id="F2"> Reflects the transfer of 71,631 shares from the James W. Green Revocable Trust to James W. Green, individually. This reflects only a change in the form of beneficial ownership of the Reporting Person without affecting the Reporting Person's pecuniary interest in such shares and is, therefore, being voluntarily reported herein. </footnote> |
| | <footnote id="F3"> Includes (a) deferred stock award of 35,100 restricted stock units which fully vest on the earlier of (i) the date of the Issuer's next Annual Meeting of Stockholders after May 16, 2019, immediately prior to the commencement of such meeting, and (ii) May 23, 2020; (b) a deferred stock award of 202,875 restricted stock units which shall fully vest on July 8, 2020; (c) a deferred stock award of 243,072 restricted stock units which shall fully vest on July 8, 2021; (d) a deferred stock award of 313,770 restricted stock units which shall vest in three equal installments on January 1, 2021, 2022 and 2023; (e) a deferred stock award of 418,360 restricted stock units with performance based vesting conditions tied to relative total shareholder return; and (f) 217,637 shares of common stock beneficially owned by the Reporting Person. </footnote> |
| | </footnotes> |
| <remarks> This form has been signed under power of attorney. </remarks> |
| <ownerSignature> |
| | <signatureName> /s/ Chad Porter, by power of attorney </signatureName> |
| | <signatureDate> 2020-01-03 </signatureDate> |
| | </ownerSignature> |
| </ownershipDocument> |
