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The Best Biotech Locations in the South
Welcome to the Future
The South's HOT Biotech Markets Explode onto the Scene
By Kimberly D. Acreback, Nicholas Maxwell & Trisha Ostrowski
BioSouth? How about BioWarm or BioSunshine? BioBargain has
a nice ring to it. Thirty years ago we might have even pitched
BioBubba. But not anymore. Is the South the next biotech hotbed
in the U.S.? Looks like it might be. But BioSouth? Why not?
After all, Northern California has Biotech Bay and Southern
California has Biotech Beach. In Boston it's Genetown. In
parts of the Northeast they call themselves PharmCountry and
in the Northwest it's BioForest.
Yes, Boston, New York, San Francisco, San Diego and Seattle
are traditional biotech hotbeds. Very costly hotbeds. Truth
is, operating in these markets is costing biotech companies
more than almost anywhere in the entire country.
As if bottom line woes weren't enough, these markets are
of-late facing land shortages and a business climate that's
not always friendly to biotech growth. Case in point, an October
22, 2001 San Francisco Chronicle article indicates that a
zoning proposal, seeking an 18-month moratorium on "new
experimental laboratories" in parts of the city, may
discourage much needed labs from cropping up in key areas.
In sharp contrast, cities, counties and states across the
South are making the needs of biotech companies top priority.
They are transforming themselves into the best possible locations
for biotech to thrive.
Local government and economic development groups are busy
identifying and executing initiatives to foster biotech success.
These include the creation of competitive tax incentives,
partnerships with research universities, and programs to facilitate
product approvals. To help companies through the difficult
product development phase, state-and local-supported biotech
incubators are also emerging at record pace.
"We have exported our intellectual capital into the
life sciences with the realization that biotech is a major
growth industry," said Peter Arnoti, executive director
of the Greenwood County Economic Alliance, whose South Carolina
community is one of the hottest biotech markets. "We
are recognizing that for the South's economy to stay strong,
first and second generation jobs must come out of innovation.
Out of that comes a greater willingness to do business with
biotech companies."
In addition to pouring resources into the life sciences,
many communities in the South have also implemented programs
to help companies find a steady capital stream until they
can gain product approval and generate revenue.
"Venture capitalists are recognizing the value of companies
in the South and are focusing on cities in the South for investment,"
said John Chaffee, executive director of Pitt County Development
Commission in North Carolina, whose community has attracted
several biotech companies.
With unprecedented growth across so many sectors, it's no
surprise that biotech companies would also recognize all that
the South can offer. A prime example-- much lower operating
costs, so a company can direct its capital into sophisticated
product development. Biotech companies are discovering readily
available, affordable lab space; along with low-cost, highly
reliable utilities.
Companies in search of graduates and postgraduates in the
field are also finding the South extremely attractive. The
region boasts an under-tapped pool of knowledge-based workers,
who are well educated and possess advanced technical skills.
World-class research universities across the region are turning
out large numbers of graduates in the life sciences.
"The South offers a readily available supply of scientists
and researchers. Companies are finding that they have no need
to recruit these individuals to a high-cost location, Instead,
they are choosing to be near where their workers are coming
from in a lower cost environment," said Ken Atkins, executive
director of Wake County, North Carolina Economic Development,
whose area is also experiencing a biotech boom.
Perhaps one of the most important rewards that biotech companies
are realizing is the South's unmatched quality of life, so
instrumental in helping them attract and retain top talent.
As Atkins explained, "Biotech firms are discovering
that a southern location gives them the ability to move people
to a very nice place to live with a warm climate and an affordable
cost of housing. Cultural amenities popping up in southern
cities are also attracting people from all over the world,
making the South increasingly cosmopolitan."
Biotech may very well be the key to America's technological
future, developing products for countless unmet medical, environmental
and agricultural needs. Advancements such as the sequencing
of the human genome provide a foundation that will support
decades of research and discovery. The current count of 1,283
biotech companies in the U.S., according to the Biotechnology
Industry Organization, is projected to increase exponentially
in coming years.
As the industry prepares for unprecedented dramatic growth,
the South's hot markets stand ready with strategic initiatives
and unparalleled advantages for biotech success.
The following profiles are of markets in the South that have
prepared and positioned themselves to attract expanding companies
in the life sciences. We have chosen these markets based on
their existing biotech cluster, infrastructure put into place
that would benefit companies in the life sciences, suitable
labor for the life sciences, proximity to research facilities,
including universities and the level of understanding and
desire by community leaders to attract companies in the life
sciences.
Unlike most industries, the life sciences bring many different
sectors to the table. We have simplified these sectors and
defined them as endeavors in human, animal, plant and environmental
biotechnology. In terms of industry and development types,
those are as numerous as the sectors themselves, There's manufacturing,
research & development and a myriad of types of industry
in the life sciences.
Different markets in the South bring different biotech site
location items to the table, too. For example, Arkansas' biotechnology
efforts are centered very much in the plant sector. Maryland's
are focused on almost all sectors, but specialize in the human.
That being the case, we have tried to identify markets that
are involved in all facets of biotechnology.
Certainly, these are not the only markets in the South that
can accommodate your life sciences deal. But our research
has shown that the following markets have, for years (not
months) planned, developed and initiated programs designed
to attract companies in the life sciences.
Biotechnology has its own language, as you know. You are
fluent in that language if you are running a company in this
sector. The leaders of the markets profiled here know that
language as well. Surprised? Don't be. These are, after all,
the South's best locations for biotech.
ALABAMA
Birmingham, Alabama
Sixty years ago, Southern Research Institute (SRI) was created
in Birmingham to recruit the best and brightest scientific
minds, and to create new products and technologies to foster
new industry for the state. Since that time, the institute
has made significant contributions to drug discovery and development,
energy and environmental research, chemical and biological
defense, and engineering research. Five of the FDA approved
cancer-fighting drugs currently on the market were tested
at SRI.
In 1969, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), the
extension medical campus of the University of Alabama, declared
its independence and eventually became the driver behind Birmingham's
growing biotechnology industry. UAB's research funding has
doubled every decade since 1969, standing at $311 million
today. The university is currently planning an Interdisciplinary
Biomedical Sciences Research Building. In fact, the Alabama
legislature recently approved $25 million (of the $90 million
needed) in bonds for this new biomedical research building.
It is expected to house more than 1,000 employees, most of
which will be highly educated scientists.
By housing researchers from various departments together
in one setting, UAB believes it can accelerate the pace of
discovery in tackling disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis,
lupus, Type 1 diabetes and chronic hepatitis, all of which
have their basis in immune system dysfunction.
UAB's Office for the Advancement of Developing Industries
(OADI) is home to a number of biomedical companies. At OADI,
technology-oriented entrepreneurs exist in an environment
designed to improve a start-up company's chances for success,
with low-cost office and laboratory space, professional and
support services, and access to UAB resources. OADI has graduated
37 companies and currently houses 24 more.
In September 2001, the Southeastern BIO Investor Forum was
held in Birmingham. This meeting is the region's preeminent
event for high-growth, life-sciences companies and investors,
bringing together leading biotechnology executives, entrepreneurs,
venture capitalists, investment bankers and other professionals.
For more information, visit Birmingham's website at www.bioalabama.com
FLORIDA
Tampa Bay, Florida
Tampa Bay is the gateway to Florida's high-tech corridor.
The 190 biomedical companies along the corridor fall into
one of five categories: pharmaceutical, medical devices and
equipment, medical waste services, wholesale medical equipment,
medical laboratory and research. These companies, 87 percent
of which are located in Tampa Bay, employ more than 10,000
individuals and take in over $1.3 billion annually. Some of
Tampa's high profile "anchor companies" supporting
pharmaceutical and medical products include Baxter Healthcare,
Critikon, and Smith & Nephew.
Tampa Bay and the Florida high-tech corridor boast an unusual
concentration of younger, retired executives with experience
in starting biomedical/medical companies. These individuals
provide mentoring, as well as commercial and management knowledge
to start-up ventures.
The University of South Florida (USF), based in Tampa Bay,
offers significant support to the region. The USF College
of Medicine provides the capacity to conduct clinical trials
and other medical testing procedures. The Tampa Bay region
also has several research hospitals. More than half of those
attending college in Tampa Bay continue to live and work in
the area after graduation, adding more than 10,000 highly
educated workers each year. The college population provides
a potential pool of over 110,000 skilled part-time workers.
Regional education includes vocational schools, community
colleges and junior colleges that offer training in medical-related
fields. In addition, an average of 30,000 new workers are
added to the labor force each year through migration from
other areas.
Guinness Book of World Records credits Tampa Bay with the
longest run of consecutive sunny days in the USA, and biotech
companies are sure to experience an equally bright future
in this beaming locale.
For more information, visit Tampa Bay's website at www.tampabay.org
Orlando, Florida
Metro Orlando's emerging biotechnology cluster is founded
on a well-developed infrastructure that includes state-of-the-art
telecommunications, a strong Interstate network system, and
a world-class airport.
The University of Florida's top-notch biotech program is
only two hours north of Orlando, allowing biotech companies
easy access to this major research university. In addition,
the University of Central Florida (UCF), with roughly 32,000
students, produces high-quality talent to meet the growing
demands of the biotech industry. UCF is developing its own
competencies in the biotech/biomedical field. The Center for
Discovery of Drugs and Diagnostics is seeking to achieve pre-eminence
in molecular medicine, which leads to new drugs and diagnostic
procedures. It is also developing a biomedical engineering
program that will pioneer rehabilitation design for the elderly
and disabled.
The region is best suited to companies who focus on human
health sciences due to Florida's strong retirement population.
Not surprisingly, Florida has the nation's third largest concentration
of medical industry firms. Rapid growth, high value-added
manufacturing and a healthy export market characterize the
biomedical industry in the state. Part of Orlando's success
is linked to the state's numerous research and development
hospitals such as The Mayo Clinic.
With regard to plant-related biotechnology, the University
of Florida's Mid-Florida Research and Education Center educates
up to 200 students in genetic engineering and other agricultural
and life sciences. The center conducts cutting edge research
in crop disease resistance, biological control and integrated
pest management. This research is used to assist the many
horticulture and tissue culture companies located in Central
Florida.
Furthermore, the community colleges have a two-year biomedical
program that produces highly skilled workers with degrees
and skills in biomedical equipment engineering, medical laboratory,
plastics engineering technology, and computer programming
and applications.
Finally, venture capital is growing in Orlando. In 2000,
the Central Florida region attracted $363 million in venture
funding. The State of Florida has recently designated the
medical products/biomedical industry as a "high impact"
sector, targeting significant capital purchase, research and
development, training and other incentives to bolster this
industry.
With a strong customer base, progressive business environment,
access to research, a strong labor pool, and mounting funding
opportunities, Orlando means business when it comes to biotechnology.
For more information, call 407-422-7159 or visit Orlando's
website at www.OrlandoMeansBusiness.com
GEORGIA
Atlanta, Georgia
To describe the life sciences industry in metro Atlanta,
picture a mitochondrion, small and powerful. At last count,
170 such facilities employed nearly 9,500 Atlantans in life
sciences including pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, medical devices,
and physical and biological research.
Some of the nation's top research facilities are located
in the Atlanta region, and more are on their way. Atlanta
is home to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) and the American Cancer Society. The CDC operates a
Technology Transfer Office, which joins federal scientists
with industry investigators. The collaboration allows them
to leverage R&D efforts in order to patent discoveries
and eventually obtain licenses.
At least six nearby universities including Emory and the
University of Georgia are centers for life science research
in areas such as immunology, cancer, AIDS, vaccine development
and the neurosciences. Georgia Tech and Emory offer joint
degree programs in the field of biotechnology.
Investments from the Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) have
enabled the creation of many leading biotech research centers
and institutes in the state. Following the GRA's lead, the
Chamber of Commerce recently announced the formation of the
Metro Atlanta Biotech Task Force. Chamber President Sam Williams
said, "The goal of the task force is to make recommendations
that will position Atlanta as a center for biotech innovations."
The task force is made up of leaders from the business community,
academia, public health organizations and research.
A few leading companies in the region include CryoLife, a
developer of implantable living human tissue for use in cardiovascular
and orthopedic surgeries; CytRx Corp. (pronounced Scitrex),
which focuses on human therapeutics such as sickle cell crisis,
shock, and stroke; Inhibitex and Serologicals, which both
develop antibodies for diseases; and Merial, which creates
veterinary vaccines and diagnostic products.
Georgia and the Atlanta region surpass some of the top 10
biotech states in number of university licenses executed,
university patents issues, science & engineering degrees
granted and recent biotech investments. There is every reason
to believe that metro Atlanta has positioned itself to be
a major force in biotech growth in the future.
For more information, call 404-586-8474 or visit Atlanta's
website at www.metroatlantachamber.com
LOUISIANA
New Orleans, Louisiana
The biotechnology industry is discovering in a big way that
New Orleans is much more than simply its mantle as the food
and hospitality capital of the nation.
An expanding base of cutting-edge research facilities is
putting New Orleans on the world's radar as a health-based
technology transfer center. Among the research facilities
in New Orleans are Louisiana State University Health Sciences
Center, the Tulane University Health Sciences Center, the
Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species, the National
Biodynamics Laboratory, the Pennington Biomedical Research
Center and the Gene Therapy Research Center.
The array of institutions also includes the Tulane Regional
Primate Center, where intensive genetic research is under
way, the Xavier University of Louisiana, which is focusing
on drug applications research. Complementing these efforts
are the University of New Orleans Innovation Center and Technology
Park, which provide an incubator atmosphere for start-up technology
companies.
Another bonus of a New Orleans location is that the diversity
of lifestyle choices in Southeast Louisiana has attracted
a large number of technology-savvy researchers and medical
professionals to the medical schools at Tulane and Louisiana
State universities. These institutions are feeding graduates
into a growing number of biotechnology research segments.
In turn, these researchers are busy producing tech-transfer
applications and spinning off biotech companies such as Autoimmune
Technologies and St. Charles Pharmaceuticals.
The Louisiana Genetics Research Consortium, established to
aid in the creation of genetics incubators, also is driving
New Orleans' biotech growth and is an important part of a
state strategic plan to maximize opportunities to grow the
medical, biomedical and biotechnology industries.
For more information on the New Orleans Region and Southeast
Louisiana, call the MetroVision Economic Development Partnership
at 504-527-6943 or visit the New Orleans Web site at www.metrovision.org
MISSISSIPPI
Starkville/ Oktibbeha County Mississippi
Starkville, Mississippi, is home to the Mississippi Research
and Technology Park and Mississippi State University (MSU),
providing state-of-the-art facilities and academic resources
to companies located in the county.
The Mississippi Research and Technology Park, the only one
of its kind in the state, has sites available for biotech
research, manufacturing or processing companies. Situated
on a beautifully landscaped 220-acre site, it is adjacent
to MSU. The park's proximity to MSU offers convenient access
to the university's research facilities and library. MSU faculty
members and graduate students are also available to provide
advice and assistance. A new technology incubator facility
will be ready for occupancy in late 2002.
MSU recently established the Life Sciences and Biotechnology
Institute. This is not surprising considering the university's
priorities include enhancing its programs in biotechnology
and bioinformatics. Primary objectives of the institute are
to promote scientific research and education that meet the
needs of society, and to attract financial and intellectual
capital that will advance commercialization of new biotechnology
products in Mississippi.
Dr. Alan Wood, who left Cornell University to become the
Director of the Life Sciences and Biotechnology Institute
said, "I came here because this place is growing. It's
exciting, it's challenging and it's a great place to be."
According to the National Science Foundation, MSU ranked
eighth among all U.S. universities in agricultural research
expenditures in 1999. The university produces more than 300
graduates a year in life sciences and receives approximately
$9 million annually for externally supported industrial collaborations
with companies like Procter and Gamble, Monsanto, Dow Chemical,
DuPont, Pfizer and Eli Lilly.
MSU supplies a steady stream of highly trained workers to
Starkville employers, giving them a decisive edge in recruiting
efforts. The convenience and combined resources of the Mississippi
Research and Technology Park and Mississippi State University
provide a formidable business advantage to those who call
Starkville home.
For more information, call 662-324-7776 or visit Starkville's
website at www.starkville.org
NORTH CAROLINA
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
The key component to the biotech industry in Winston-Salem,
North Carolina, is the Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
It is the catalyst for a number of facilities, initiatives
and programs that are advancing the region's technology industry.
Wake Forest University recently established a genomics research
program with a $60 million investment. The companies that
have spun out of Wake Forest all focus on pharmaceutical compound
research for human ailments such as cancer, Alzheimers and
Parkinsons.
In 1998, the community constructed the Piedmont Triad Research
Park in downtown Winston-Salem surrounding the Physiology
and Pharmacology department at the WFU School of Medicine.
This unique business environment provides the excitement of
an urban downtown with university proximity for researchers
and entrepreneurs to interact in their pursuit of innovation.
The area has new buildings and renovated structures with condominiums
available for residential living. Companies in the research
park represent biotechnology, computer network services, medical
devices, e-commerce, software development, academia, research
and development and business services.
In addition, Winston-Salem has initiated the Triad Entrepreneurial
Initiative to enhance opportunities for start-up technology
businesses. The Winston-Salem community has pledged $1.1 million
over the next three years to support various programs. Program
elements include coordinated counseling and assistance services,
educational programs, mentoring and coaching services, affordable
incubator space, capital availability, networking activities,
work force training and an annual business plan competition.
The Winston-Salem Technology Council, Techcentricity and Piedmont
Entrepreneurs Network have all been established to address
specific needs related to high-tech entrepreneurs in the region.
Winston-Salem is a truly wired city with high bandwidth capability
in every business area of the city, a competitive telecommunications
market and cutting edge infrastructure resources. WinstonNet,
a community-based fiber network installed by Wake Forest University,
connects public schools, universities, libraries, government
businesses and research entities.
The Winston-Salem area has nine 4-year universities and five
2-year community colleges offering more than 40 degree programs
in biotech/biomedical related fields.
With all of these advantages in its corner, Winston-Salem
is quickly emerging as a leading technology center for health
care, research, science and advanced manufacturing.
For more information, call 336-723-8955 or visit Winston-Salem's
website at www.winstonsalem.com
Wilson, North Carolina
Wilson, North Carolina boasts an enviable list of life science
companies. It is home to Merck and Purdue Pharmaceuticals
LP, as well as Eon Pharma, a generic manufacturer, and Leiner
Health Products, a private-label manufacturer. Southern Testing
& Research Laboratories, Inc. provides testing services
generally only found in major metropolitan areas. Jointly,
these companies employ over 1,100 people in their Wilson facilities.
The companies, which serve regional, national and international
markets, have different reasons for selecting Wilson, but
all appreciate the community's pro-business environment.
Governor Jim Hunt said, "I travel around the world recruiting
new companies to North Carolina. From my experience, I know
that most companies can find anything they're looking for
in my hometown of Wilson. Wilson is a great place for business,
with some of the hardest working, most productive people you'll
ever meet."
Wilson's proximity to Raleigh, Greenville and other eastern
North Carolina cities provides a huge boost to its work force.
Over 7,000 people drive into Wilson each day to work. Although
the population is only 77,000, the work force within a thirty-mile
radius is 165,000.
Wilson currently has over 1 million square feet of pharmaceutical
manufacturing, packaging, research, laboratory and warehouse
space, most of which is less than five years old. Access to
venture capital has also grown significantly in the past two
years through the development of the Dogwood Equity, a joint
venture between private interests and the State of North Carolina.
Local life sciences companies have collaborated with Wilson
Technical Community College on an Industrial Pharmaceutical
Technology Program and with Barton College on a Chemistry
degree. Other universities in close proximity include North
Carolina State University, Duke University, University of
North Carolina, East Carolina University and Campbell University.
With an established biomedical community, a willing work
force, and the capabilities to attract and retain international
companies, Wilson is ready to serve the world.
For more information, call 1-800-241-4920 or visit Wilson's
website at www.wilson.edc.com
SOUTH CAROLINA
Greenwood County, South Carolina
Over the last 15 years, Greenwood County, South Carolina,
has received $2.2 billion in investments - no small feat for
a community with only 60,000 residents. Peter Arnoti, Executive
Director of the Greenwood Alliance, attributes the success
to "strong leadership, strong vision and strong commitments."
Although the county gained over 4,600 new manufacturing jobs
during that same timeframe, city developers realized that
the key to their continued success was to diversify their
economic base. To achieve this goal, Arnoti says the community
decided to "leverage the assets in our own backyard."
As home to the Greenwood Genetic Center (GGC), Greenwood
has been involved in genetic research since 1974. Built from
funding provided by the Self Family Foundation, the GGC diagnoses
and provides clinical services to families across the Southeast
whose children suffer from birth defects or mental retardation.
Each year more than 20,000 families from South Carolina and
neighboring states receive clinical and laboratory services
at the GGC. According to Dr. Roger Stevenson, Director of
the Greenwood Genetic Center, "Biotechnology research
in Greenwood has made us a major player in the R&D arena
and reflects our community's commitment to ensure that all
children receive a healthy start in life."
In the early 1990s, the GGC developed a research arm, the
J.C. Self Research Institute of Human Genetics, which studies
the causes, treatment and prevention of genetic birth defects
such as spina bifida. The goal of the Self Institute is for
every baby to be born free of physical and mental disabilities.
United with the GGC, it employs 20 M.D./PhD. geneticists and
is one of 43 establishments nationwide that offers post-doctoral
training in medical genetics.
Within a 2-hour radius of Greenwood are three research universities:
Clemson, the Medical University of South Carolina and the
University of South Carolina. Between them, they receive approximately
$300 million annually to conduct research and confer degrees
to over 1,800 life science graduates. Clemson, which specializes
in plant and animal genetics, has even established a partnership
with the Greenwood Genetics Center to allow graduate students
to conduct basic research in human genetics.
Although research is critical, Greenwood recognized that
it needed a way to put its knowledge assets to use. In order
to turn concepts into commercial applications, Greenwood became
the proud parent of South Carolina's first biotech incubator
program. Situated on the campus of the GGC, the South Carolina
Biotechnology Incubation Facility (SCBIF) offers access to
superior intellectual and research resources. According to
Jim Hodges, governor of South Carolina, the incubator "will
help shape the state's new economy." The facility, dedicated
on October 18, 2001, is replete with the latest communication
technology, six hooded wet labs, office space, a conference
room, a library, and a 124-seat auditorium, all for researchers
wanting to commercialize their applications. When fledging
companies are ready to graduate to the next level, SCBIF provides
financial support ranging from tax incentives to a local angel
investors network. This year, the angel investors network
committed $5.2 million to create a company, which now manufactures
saline solutions for kidney dialysis. According to Arnoti,
the ideal scenario would be "to take a company from I.O.U.
to IPO."
Start-up companies are not the only ones that have something
to gain in Greenwood. The future Greenwood Biotechnology Park
will target biotechnical, biomedical, and bio-pharmaceutical
firms requiring scientific input. The 500-acre campus-style
park is conveniently located adjacent to the Greenwood Genetics
Center.
Leaning on its past and looking to its future, Greenwood
County is a community with the passion and commitment to make
a difference in the world of biotechnology.
For more information, call 864-388-1250 or visit Greenwood
County's website at www.greenwoodalliance.com
Sumter County, South Carolina
Until World War II, Sumter, South Carolina, was a quiet farming
community, the hub of an agricultural region mostly dependent
on tobacco and cotton. Since then, Sumter has shaken the sleepy
little town image and today is a center of modern manufacturing.
Companies such as Becton-Dickinson, Cooper Tools and Diebold
call Sumter home. Robert Bosch Corp., Caterpillar and Kaydon
each have two plants in Sumter.
How does this manufacturing base make Sumter one of the hottest
sites for Biotech? The community took a giant leap into the
biotech field with the recent announcement that a Massachusetts
biotech company selected Sumter (pop. 105,000) for its first
manufacturing facility. Biopure Corp. announced in early 2001
that it would build its first full-scale manufacturing plant
in Sumter.
"The key to our success has been our ability to put
together a team that can build a $100 million facility and
then lease it back to the company. That way, we protect the
emerging company's capital for research and FDA approval,"
said Steve Rust, president of the Sumter County Development
Board. Although the deal spun with Biopure is a first, Rust
said it could be duplicated for the right company.
"I'm sure that under the right set of circumstance we
can do it again, he said. "If we can do it for Biopure,
we can do it for other promising high-technology firms with
breakthrough technologies."
The combination of a central location, skilled workers, low
production costs, high quality of life, valuable state and
local incentives, and a team of professionals that can coordinate
and manage even the most complex and unusual projects, Sumter
is poised to make additional strides in the biotech industry.
Carl Rausch, Biopure's chairman and chief executive officer,
said Team Sumter was quite impressive.
"We chose Sumter County because of the economic infrastructure
and skilled work force in the surrounding area as evidenced
during our meetings with representatives from Shaw Air Force
base and our visits to the Becton-Dickinson, Caterpillar and
Roche Carolina plants," Rausch said. "It was also
important to us that the local and state governments supported
and facilitated a structure that will preserve our operating
capital."
Since Sumter began as a farming community and still has deep
roots in agriculture, it has a distinct advantage for biotech
projects. For instance, Biopure manufactures a breakthrough
new medical product that uses bovine blood as its raw material.
The blood is processed to extract the hemoglobin, an oxygen-carrying
protein. Polymerized and processed to sterility, Hemopure
can be used in lieu of whole blood during surgery. It has
numerous advantages over whole blood: a 3-year shelf life,
no need for refrigeration and compatibility with any blood
type. The product also has great potential to be used in trauma
situations, where time is critical.
With more than 100 manufacturing facilities and an Air Force
base populated by 20,000, Sumter has managed to retain its
rustic charm while becoming a modern community dedicated to
making things and making them well.
For more information, call 803-418-0702 or visit Sumter County's
website at www.sumteredge.com.
TENNESSEE
Memphis, Tennessee
The city of Memphis is strategically positioned to be one
of the hottest biotech cities in the U.S. As home to St. Jude
Children's Research Hospital, the University of Tennessee
Heath Science Center, and the Medical Education Research Institute,
Memphis is one of the country's up-and-coming sites for biomedical
technology initiatives. Not only does Memphis have bragging
rights to medical companies including Smith-Nephew, Medtronic
Sofamor Danek, Schering Plough, Wright Medical, Orthomatrix
and GTx, but the Memphis Biotech Foundation has also announced
the development of a Biomedical Technology Research Park for
Memphis' medical district.
The population in Memphis represents diversity in age, race
and socioeconomic backgrounds, proving to be a hotspot for
researchers. As the center point for the mid-south region,
Memphis offers the vital infrastructure needed for agricultural
biotechnology research with proximity to neighboring research
universities and rural communities.
Another primary asset for Memphis' biomedical technology
industry is North America's largest time-specific, critical
shipment carrier, Federal Express. Headquartered in Memphis,
FedEx provides 24-hour, year-round "custom critical"
pickup and delivery services for time-sensitive products,
such as the transportation of live cells or time-critical
medical devices.
For more information, call 901-543-3517 or visit www.memphischamber.com
Northeast Tennessee Valley
The greater Tri-Cities, Tennessee region is becoming a hotbed
for biotech companies. The region's economy is diversified
and includes medical technologies, a broad range of manufacturers,
corporate headquarters and distribution centers.
Examples of the variety of successful biotech companies operating
in the area include: GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceutical, which
develops and manufacturers medicines for animals; King Pharmaceutical,
which develops and manufacturers medicines for humans; Eastman
Chemical Company, which conducts research on microbiological
environmental solutions; and Argobast Pharmaceutical, which
develops blood tests to screen women for preeclampsia.
The region boasts a work force of more than 300,000 with
a proven work ethic. Offering an exceptional program to train
these workers, Tennessee's Industrial Training Service (ITS)
consistently ranks in the top 10 in the nation. Great electric
rates, an abundance of natural gas, advanced digital and fiber-optic
networks, and all other amenities associated with developed
industrial sites are also available.
Statewide, Tennessee has built a reputation for supporting
medical and biotech ventures. The Tennessee Biotechnology
Association (TBA) is a state association of leading scientists,
researchers, academicians, clinicians, legislators and business
leaders organized to foster, develop, and support the Biotechnology
industry in Tennessee.
Located in the Tennessee Technology Corridor, the Tri-Cities
is able to take advantage of the region's technological resources
including its numerous technology associations and universities
such as Quillen College of Medicine and East Tennessee State
University.
For more information, call 423-323-1203 or visit Northeast
Tennessee's website at www.netvaly.org.
Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Oak Ridge, Tennessee, lies in the heart of the Tennessee
Technology Corridor, an active high-tech area spanning from
northern Alabama to the southwestern border of Virginia. The
city is privileged to offer some of the most highly sophisticated
science facilities in the world.
Its signature facility, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory
(ORNL), is a multi-program lab that conducts research in energy
production and end-use technologies; biological and environmental
science and technology; advanced materials synthesis; and
the physical sciences. It has won more than 107 awards for
Top 100 R&D labs.
Other unique facilities include the Tennessee Mouse Genome
Consortium, which houses a colony of 70,000 live mice; The
University of Tennessee-Battelle, which has announced plans
for a $30 million investment in new lab facilities; and the
Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) project. The U.S. Dept. of
Energy has designated $290 million for the world's best SNS,
which among other things, will "make movies of molecules
in action."
The University of Tennessee (UT) also supports Oak Ridge
through its Environmental Biotechnology Center. In collaboration
with the Tennessee Technology Development Corporation, UT
has created a Technopreneurial Leadership program, in which
participants can "come for a degree and leave with a
company."
Many biotech companies have found that Oak Ridge offers the
technology, facilities and intellectual power they need. A
small sampling of these companies includes: Allmeds, Atom
Sciences, Genomix Corporation, Identichem, and Theragenics
Corporation.
Tom Whitaker, President of Atom Sciences, said, "One
key to running a successful biotech company is having world-class
resources available when you need them…we have found
Oak Ridge to be a gold mine when it comes to both human and
technical resources."
A superior telecommunications infrastructure and state-of-the-art
research parks with fiber optics are readily available in
Oak Ridge. In addition, the Joint Institute for Biological
Sciences provides interim lab space for growing companies,
enabling researchers to work side by side with experts in
their fields.
Oak Ridge supplies an impressive work force with more than
45,000 IT professionals, 9,000 students majoring in sciences
and 2,300 Ph.D.s. Other resources available to entrepreneurs
include the Business Incubation Program and the TennesSeed
Venture Capital Fund.
Nestled between the foothills of the Cumberland and Smoky
Mountains, Oak Ridge is a premier location for businesses
on the leading edge of science and technology.
For more information, call 865-483-1321 or visit Oak Ridge's
website at www.orcc.org.
TEXAS
San Antonio
Congress has called on Dr. Frederick Hausheer to testify
on Capitol Hill about information technology for the 21st
century. Hausheer's company is internationally recognized
for its patents. And he is world renowned for his groundbreaking
work integrating medicine, quantum physics, synthetic chemistry,
pharmaceutical sciences and supercomputing in the development
of cancer drugs.
With credentials like that, Hausheer could have located his
company, BioNumerik Pharmaceuticals, just about anywhere he
wanted. In fact, cities like Baltimore, San Diego and Seattle
were eagerly pursuing the startup firm when Hausheer opened
BioNumerik's doors in San Antonio back in 1992.
Hausheer had read hundreds of articles and prospectuses about
successful companies in many fields and found some common
threads. For one, a great number of today's industrial behemoths
started in areas that were off the beaten path at the time.
For another, quite a few seriously successful company founders
had said quality of life was a major factor in their decision
to locate their firms where they did. Low local costs were
another big attraction.
All those factors, Hausheer says, pointed him directly at
San Antonio. Looks like it was a good call because today BioNumerik
has three drugs in human trials, including its top candidate,
a treatment to prevent nerve and kidney damage as a side effect
of other drugs given to cancer patients.
Companies like BioNumerik are working closely with the rest
of San Antonio's vibrant biomedical community to create an
economic powerhouse. Biotech research had a $682 million economic
impact on the city in 2000, almost double the 1990 figure.
And San Antonio's already formidable cancer research capabilities
received a huge boost in 1999 when the state funded the Children's
Cancer Research Center, which broke ground in August 2001,
with a $200 million endowment.
Moreover, the biomedical field is now the largest industry
segment in San Antonio, providing almost 100,000 jobs and
a total economic impact of $8.1 billion a year.
It's an impact built on decades of foundation work involving
both public and private institutions. The highly regarded
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio,
the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, the Texas
Research Park, the Cancer Therapy and Research Center and
the Texas Transplant Institute are among the key players.
So are the numerous companies doing breakthrough research
and development work on everything from umbilical cord stem
cells to cancer treatments.
San Antonio's biotech brain trust is proving it can go beyond
research and bring the fruits of that research to market -
a capability very few biotech firms can claim.
Ilex Oncology, Inc., for example, launched in 1994 by researchers
at San Antonio's Cancer Therapy and Research Center, this
year received approval to market a new cancer drug called
Campath. That places ILEX among a select group of some 40
biotechnology companies with marketed products out of more
than 1,000 biotech companies overall. Worldwide sales of Campath
have reached $16.5 million in the first four months after
its launch.
And San Antonio firms continue to attract substantial research
grants for the development of other promising technologies.
Biomedical Development Corp., for example, recently received
two National Institutes of Health grants totaling $875,000
to further develop a thin polymer film product with potential
as a wound treatment and for drug delivery. The NIH is also
funding San Antonio's INCELL Corp. as it continues to investigate
the world's first human stem cell lines from small intestinal
tissue.
For more information about San Antonio's burgeoning life
sciences industry, contact Mario Hernandez, President of the
San Antonio Economic Development Foundation at 210-226-1394
or via email at marioh@dcci.com.
Bastrop, Texas
In addition to its scenic beauty and historic charm, Bastrop,
Texas boasts a growing biotech cluster. Only 30 miles from
Austin, it offers many of the same advantages of the capital
city without the traffic. Don't be fooled by this small town
though. Bastrop is fortunate to have four quality organizations
making up its biotech core.
These organizations include the MD Anderson Cancer Research
Center, which studies the molecular structure of cancer cells;
the University of Texas Veterinary Science Park, which works
with animals to develop cures for all types of cancer; the
BioCrest/Stratagene Company, which conducts DNA research;
and the Coghlan Group, which performs all types of drug and
medical device testing.
Low-cost land makes Bastrop unique. In fact, the Bastrop
Economic Development Council offers free land to eligible
companies. Its new industrial park has modern amenities, underground
utilities and communication links for its tenants. Tax abatements,
as well as loans and grant assistance, are available based
on the amount of the capital investment and the number of
jobs created.
Quality of life is decidedly an advantage for residents of
Bastrop. The community has three 18-hole golf courses a riverwalk
on the Colorado River, a recreational lake and a popular state
park featuring the "Lost Pines." The historic city
also offers a multitude of charming antique shops, quaint
B&Bs and hiking, biking and equestrian trails.
Eight colleges of higher learning in the area including the
University of Texas at Austin and Austin Community College,
create a skilled and readily available work force. With opportunities
for animal, environmental, human and plant-related biotech
efforts, Bastrop provides an inexpensive and picture perfect
setting in which to position a new or existing biotech company.
For more information, call 512-303-9700 or visit Bastrop's
website at www.bastropedc.org.
VIRGINIA
Roanoke, Virginia
With a biotech-friendly infrastructure that includes a biomedical
research institute and a location between two top research
universities, Virginia's Roanoke Valley is poised to become
the newest global hotspot for the biotech industry.
The Carilion Biomedical Institute (CBI) was formed to accelerate
university research into marketable health care products and
procedures, as well as attract entrepreneurial biomedical
companies to the region by providing business support, such
as seed money, market analysis and prototype testing. It is
a partnership between Carilion Health System, Virginia Tech
and the University of Virginia, two of the nation's largest
research universities
In early 2001, the institute spawned its first company, BioPhile
Inc., which will make automated high-tech laboratory freezers
that store and retrieve medical tissue, blood and DNA samples.
The technology behind the freezer's automation was developed
at the University of Virginia's Medical Automation Research
Center, which CBI funds.
By 2004, CBI will become one of the first tenants in the
Riverside Centre for Research and Technology, building its
headquarters in the 110-acre business park near downtown Roanoke.
The park is specifically designed for biotech companies. In
addition, the Roanoke County Center for Research and Technology,
under development just off Interstate 81, will offer ready-to-go
sites within minutes of Virginia Tech. The park, which features
a modern infrastructure and designation as a Planned Technology
District, is ideal for research and development, as well as
high-tech manufacturing.
To sustain its knowledge-based work force, Roanoke Valley
has 19 colleges and universities within a 60-mile radius.
The higher learning institutions produce 13,000 graduates
per year, including Virginia Tech's highly sought-after engineering
graduates.
Surrounded by the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains, Roanoke
Valley is a great place to be.
For more information, call 540-853-2715 or visit Roanoke
Valley's website at www.roanoke.org.
Richmond Virginia
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is an essential part
of the Richmond metropolitan area. VCU is a Carnegie research
university, which had over $100 million in externally funded
research in 1999. The University has two distinct campuses:
the VCU Academic Campus and the Medical College of Virginia
Campus. The Academic Campus is opening a new $28 million life
sciences building this fall featuring 44 labs, as well as
lecture and classroom space.
The Medical College of Virginia (MCV) offers 10 biomedical
master's programs and 10+ doctoral programs. Its medical research
provides solutions to worldwide issues and also transfers
VCU's biotechnical discoveries into commercial applications
that are appealing to a variety of industries. At MCV, a potential
drug can enter the development process at any stage and take
advantage of the highly interdisciplinary research expertise
and advanced technologies necessary to become a pharmaceutical.
VCU faculty have created some of the most advanced national
drug design software in the world.
The Virginia Biotechnology Research Park houses scientists,
engineers and technicians in 40 companies, research institutes
and state agencies who are working together to generate commercial
and scientific progress. It features six buildings with two
more under construction, including a $15.5 million facility
for the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). The park
will facilitate technology transfer and business development,
and provide operational support.
Richmond already has a well-established pharmaceutical and
chemical base. Leading firms with major production, research
and headquarters facilities in the Greater Richmond area include
Whitehall-Robins Healthcare, Commonwealth Biotechnologies,
Owens & Minor, Honeywell, DuPont, Ethyl Corp. and Boehringer
Ingelheim.
Virginia Governor, Jim Gilmore, announced in August that
Boehringer Ingelheim, a world leader in the pharmaceutical
industry, will expand its Virginia operations for the second
time since March 2000. "The Virginia Biotechnology Research
Park will serve as an ideal location for the company's research
and development activities," he said. A world leader
in the pharmaceutical industry, Boehringer Ingelheim will
build a research and development facility that will employ
16 researchers. The company will invest $2.5 million over
the next five years in the synthesis lab.
Richmond, the capital of Virginia, bases its past on the
historic James River, and its future on the flowing possibilities
of the biotech industry.
For more information, call 804-643-3227 or visit Richmond's
website at www.grpva.com
or www.vabiotech.com.
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is experiencing significant growth in the
number of biotech companies that are taking up residence.
One attracting factor for these companies is the Health Sciences
Center at the University of Virginia (UVA). Rated as one of
the best 100 hundred hospitals in the country, its research
department is top notch. Most of the biotech activity relates
to solving human health care problems, enhancing the practice
of medicine, and assisting in the process of taking new drugs
to the marketplace.
As the number of biotech companies locating in the Charlottesville
area grows, so does the number of venture capital firms that
continue to follow close behind. Other contributing factors
include a restructured Patent Foundation, new research parks
and diversity in Charlottesville and its surrounding counties.
Biotech companies in Charlottesville are making major contributions
to the advancement of medicine. There are almost 30 companies
in the region that account for 20 percent of the statewide
biotech community. Adenosine Therapeutics, a drug discovery
company with technology licensed from UVA, Penn State and
the National Institutes of Health, works on discoveries that
reduce inflammation associated with heart attacks, asthma,
stroke, and organ transplantation. Biotage, created by the
co-founders of Genzyme, was established to solve difficult
drug and protein purification problems. Biotage invented a
way to purify the millions of new drug molecules that pharmaceutical
companies are discovering. Other notable companies calling
Charlottesville home include Argonex, INDOOR Biotechnologies,
Medical Automation Systems (MAS), and PRA International.
Charlottesville also benefits from its proximity to the Carilion
Biomedical Institute. Teams of scientist from UVA and Virginia
Tech partner with the Carilion Heath System to conduct biomedical
research. One of the institute's focus areas is on medical
automation. The Medical Automation Research Center (MARC),
located in the Charlottesville Connected Community Center,
explores robotic concepts for medical applications including
blood testing.
Emerging as a center for biotechnology in Virginia, Charlottesville
is well-positioned to support companies who are interested
in enhancing health care products and services.
For more information, call 804-979-5610 or visit Charlottesville's
website at www.tjped.com.
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