Nation's 1.2 Million Bioscience Jobs Generate Additional 5.8 Million Jobs
CHICAGO, April 10 /PRNewswire/ -- States and regions across the country
are working to develop and promote the growth of their bioscience bases,
according to the study "Growing the Nation's Bioscience Sector: State
Bioscience Initiatives 2006," released today by Battelle and the
Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO). The biosciences are a growing
and vibrant sector of the U.S. economy, with more than 40,000 businesses
employing 1.2 million people in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District
of Columbia.
"Growing the Nation's Bioscience Sector: State Bioscience Initiatives
2006" profiles state policies and programs that provide support to
bioscience companies. The report also provides state-by-state employment
data for all bioscience sectors, including drugs and pharmaceuticals,
medical devices and equipment, research, testing and medical laboratories,
and agricultural feedstocks and chemicals.
"This report shows that when states invest in building bioscience
industries, they are at the same time making long-term investments in their
citizenry with higher education -- especially in science, math and
technology. These investments pay off with high-wage, new economy jobs in a
growing industry," said Jim Greenwood, president and CEO of BIO. "The
industry's growth and the benefits are not just in health care, but also in
agricultural, industrial and environmental biosciences."
Walter H. Plosila, vice president of the Battelle Technology
Partnership Practice, said, "State investments in research and development
at universities and laboratories will become increasingly important in the
future to continue the growth of the bioscience industries. The payoff for
states will come from investments in translating this research into
commercial applications and products."
Key findings of the report include:
* Total employment in the biosciences in the United States reached 1.2
million in 2004, with bioscience workers found in all 50 states and
Puerto Rico. The highest rate of growth in jobs is in the research,
testing, and medical laboratories sector.
* The nation's 1.2 million bioscience jobs generated an additional 5.8
million jobs in the economy. Each bioscience job in the United States
generates 5.7 additional jobs in affiliated industries.
* States are spending billions of dollars to support bioscience research
and development, with research funds and construction of academic and
medical facilities.
* States are also using investment funds and tax incentives to attract
large industry anchors, instead of solely focusing on launching and
growing new bioscience ventures.
* Smaller states that have not traditionally invested in building
bioscience industries are beginning to do so.
All 50 states and Puerto Rico are working to develop and promote the
growth of their bioscience bases. Each of these states recognizes that by
focusing on its own strengths, they will succeed in capturing the economic
benefits of bioscience discoveries.
The study was funded by BIO and Battelle. The report is available on
the BIO web site at http://www.bio.org/local/battelle2006/ and the Battelle
web site at http://www.battelle.org/news/06/default.stm.
Battelle is a global leader in science and technology. Headquartered in
Columbus, Ohio, it develops and commercializes technology and manages
laboratories for customers. Battelle, with the national labs it manages or
co-manages, oversees 19,000 staff members and conducts $3.4 billion in
annual research and development. Battelle innovations include the
development of the office copier machine (Xerox), pioneering work on
compact disc technology, medical technology advancements, and fiber optic
technologies.
BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic
institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across
the United States and 31 other nations. BIO members are involved in the
research and development of healthcare, agricultural, industrial and
environmental biotechnology products.
SOURCE Biotechnology Industry Organization
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Related links:
http://www.bio.org
http://www.battelle.org/news/06/default.stm/
CONTACT:
Paul Winters of Biotechnology Industry
Organization, +1-202- 962-9237, or cell: +1-202-359-6571,
pwinters@bio.org; or Katy Delaney +1-410- 306-8638,
delaneyk@battelle.org, of Battelle for Biotechnology Industry
Organization
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