BIO and Battelle Release State-By-State Analysis of Bioscience Trends

• Contact: George Goodno
• Phone: 202-439-3749

San Diego, CA (June 18, 2008) – The Nation’s bioscience industry continues to grow as states and regions vie to attract high-wage jobs, according to a study released today by Battelle and the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO).

The study, "Technology, Talent and Capital: State Bioscience Initiatives 2008," presents data on national, state and metropolitan bioscience employment and growth trends during 2001 to 2006. The study also examines a series of additional key performance metrics and describes state policies and programs designed to accelerate the growth of the biosciences. The report has been produced from the most current and comparable annual data available.

Total U.S. employment in the biosciences reached 1.3 million in 2006, up from 1.2 million in 2004, led by strong growth in the research, testing and medical lab subsector, which experienced a 17.8 percent increase in employment and a 32.7 percent increase in establishments between 2001 and 2006. Indirect and induced employment from the bioscience industry totals an additional 6.2 million jobs spread throughout the remainder of the economy. Together, these direct, indirect and induced jobs account for a total employment impact of 7.5 million jobs.

"The bioscience sector is truly coming of age with new discoveries finding their way into new applications and products leading to new medical treatments, new sources of energy, and new industrial products made out of bio-based materials," said Jim Greenwood, President and CEO of BIO. "This has led to the growth of clusters of bioscience firms focused on specialized niches throughout the 50 states and Puerto Rico."

The study and individual profiles of the 50 states and Puerto Rico are available on the BIO website at http://www.bio.org/local/battelle2008/.

Among the findings:

• The bioscience sector is a source of high-wage jobs. The average bioscience job paid $71,000 in 2006, $29,000 more than the average private sector job.
• Each bioscience job generates an additional 5.8 jobs in the national economy.
• Thirty-five states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have an employment specialization (20 percent or more concentrated than the nation) in at least one of the four bioscience subsectors (drugs and pharmaceuticals, medical devices and equipment, research, testing and medical laboratories, and agricultural feedstock and chemicals).
• Twelve states – California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas – have both a large (more than 5 percent of total U.S. employment) and specialized bioscience base in at least one of the bioscience subsectors.
• Of the nation’s 361 Metropolitan Statistical Areas, 202 have an employment specialization in at least one of the four bioscience subsectors, up from 193 in 2004.

In addition to employment, the report examines other indicators of the robustness of a state’s bioscience industry including the level of bioscience R&D funding, venture capital investment, and patents. Highlights of additional key indicators include:

• Academic bioscience R&D expenditures total $29 billion in FY 2006.
• U.S. higher education institutions awarded more than 143,000 bioscience-related degrees in the 2006 academic year.
• Venture capital investments in bioscience companies reached $11.6 billion in 2007.
• More than 82,000 bioscience-related patents were issued to U.S. inventors between 2002 and 2007.

"Recognizing that the biosciences are a key driver of economic progress, states and regions across the county are building business climates that support the specific needs of bioscience companies at all stages of development," said Walter H. Plosila, Senior Advisor to the Battelle Technology Partnership Practice. "These efforts focus on technology, talent, and capital, the key ingredients needed to grow a bioscience-based economy."

States are:

• Addressing talent needs by offering new bioscience-related programs and degrees at all education levels from K-12 through graduate and post-graduate, programs that combine business with biosciences, and developing bioscience career pathways. About half the states have conducted an inventory or workforce needs in the biosciences sector.
• Becoming more active in supporting the application of the biosciences to agriculture, energy and industrial products. About half the states have committed funds for bioscience energy research and facilities.
• Changing state tax and regulatory programs to address the needs of bioscience companies. Thirty-six states offer R&D tax credits, 31 exempt R&D equipment , including equipment purchased for biomanufacturing from sales taxes, and 39 states allow carry forward of Net Operating Losses.
• Establishing bioscience legislative caucuses and committees. Twelve states have legislative caucuses and California, Illinois and Minnesota have dedicated bioscience committees.
• Advancing bold initiatives in the biosciences, including investments in stem cell research. Nine states have pledged to spend more than $4 billion on stem cell research over the next 10 years.
• Addressing the shortage of early-stage risk capital. Thirty-three states reported programs that provide pre-seed and seed stage investments in bioscience companies.

About Battelle
Battelle is the world’s largest non-profit independent research and development organization, providing innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing needs through its four global businesses: Laboratory Management, National Security, Energy Technology, and Health and Life Sciences. It advances scientific discovery and application by conducting $4 billion in global R&D annually through contract research, laboratory management and technology commercialization. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Battelle oversees 20,400 employees in more than 120 locations worldwide, including seven national laboratories which Battelle manages or co-manages for the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Battelle also is one of the nation’s leading charitable trusts focusing on societal and economic impact and actively supporting and promoting science and math education.

Upcoming BIO Events

BIO International Convention
June 17-20, 2008
San Diego, CA

Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy
Sept. 10-12, 2008
Vancouver, BC

BIO Investor Forum 2008
October 29-31, 2008
San Francisco, CA

BIO-Europe 2008
November 17-19, 2008
Mannheim/Heidelberg, Germany

About BIO

BIO represents more than 1,200 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world.

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