New BIO Report Profiles States’ Life Science Initiatives

The importance states are placing on the biosciences to fuel future economic growth is clearly evident in a monumental study released today at the annual international convention of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO). Laboratories of Innovation: State Bioscience Initiatives 2004 is the most comprehensive analysis ever done to quantify the scope and impact of bioscience employment in all 50 states.

Prepared for BIO by Battelle Memorial Institute and SSTI, the 450-page study examines programs and policies in each state to promote the development of bioscience companies. The state-by-state analysis, which expands on a 2001 study that looked at activities in 42 states, reveals states are learning that success means specializing in specific sub-sectors.

Other key findings include:

* In 2004, 40 states specifically target the biosciences for development and all 50 states have economic development initiatives available to assist bioscience companies. State investments have grown and the variety of approaches used to stimulate growth of the bioscience sectors have increased significantly.

* More than 885,000 people in the U.S. are employed in the biosciences. The largest segment of this group is working in the areas of medical devices and equipment, which accounts for 37 percent of bioscience employment.

* In 2003, bioscience workers on average were paid at least $26,600 more than the overall national average private sector annual wage.

While there are many reasons states are focusing on the biosciences, the fact the biosciences cut across manufacturing, services and research and are not limited merely to medicine or agriculture appears to be a significant factor. States and regions that are promoting bioscience development are focusing on the activities best suited for the area.

For example, North Dakota is focusing on bioprocessing in value-added agriculture, while Missouri is seeking to become a leading center in plant and animal health. States such as Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Utah are working in the area of medical devices, while other states are devoting their attention to research and testing.

Partly as a result of economic development programs, 15 states have at least 5 percent employment in at least one bioscience sector, and 24 states have at least 3 percent employment in one or more sub-sectors, according to the report. Twelve states ­ California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia ­ have both large employment bases in the biosciences and are specialized in at least one industry sub-sector.

Factors that appear to influence a state’s ability to grow bioscience employment include the degree of involvement by research institutions, available capital, access to facilities and equipment, a stable and supportive tax and regulatory environment and a long-term perspective. That long-term perspective is reflected in every state’s renewed emphasis on science and math education, including programs throughout the K-12 school years aimed at preparing students for bioscience careers.

The BIO report uses a definition of biosciences that incorporates a range of industry sectors relying on insights into the way living things work. The five major sub-sectors are: agricultural feedstock and chemicals; drugs and pharmaceuticals; medical devices and equipment; research and testing; and academic health centers, research hospitals and research institutes.

Laboratories of Innovation: State Bioscience Initiatives 2004 is available at: http://www.bio.org/speeches/pubs/battelle2004.pdf.

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