ASTRONOMY

"We're proud that New York is fast becoming a world leader in biotechnology research and that we've taken unprecedented steps to attract new jobs and biotech companies to New York," said New York Governor George E. Pataki. "New York has a wealth of examples of how our successful biotechnology strategy has built upon the unique strengths and assets of our State economy all across New York. Our biotechnology companies are expanding and creating new, good paying high-tech jobs. As we move ahead with Phase II of New York's high-technology and biotechnology job creation efforts, New York is fostering the growth and expansion of new and existing biotechnology companies -- which is playing an important role in our ambitious effort to create one million new jobs in New York by the end of the decade." The five major sub-sectors of the bioscience industry are agricultural feedstock and chemicals; drugs and pharmaceuticals; medical devices and equipment; research and testing; and academic health centers, research hospitals and research institutes. Key Findings from the BIO-Batelle Study The BIO-Batelle study is the most comprehensive analysis ever done to quantify the scope and impact of bioscience employment in all 50 states. It also examines programs in each state to promote the development of bioscience companies. This state-by-state analysis expands on a 2001 study that looked at activities in 42 states. The study finds that employment and other economic activity in the biosciences has grown dramatically in the past three years, and states working to attract bioscience companies are learning that success means specializing in specific sub-sectors. "With 749 establishments in four industry subsectors employing more than 36,700 people, the bioscience industry in New York continues to be of growing importance to the state," said Karin Duncker, Executive Director of the New York State Biotechnology Association (NYBA). "With continued collaboration between industry, academia and government, NYBA will work to ensure this vital industry continues to thrive." New York has demonstrated considerable commitment to key factors that appear to influence a state's ability to grow bioscience employment. These 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. Among the state's major initiatives are: -- Centers of Excellence program: The state's flagship program for R&D facilities is financed through the Empire State Development Corp. Each of the four centers will be funded between $35 million and $50 million over five years, to be leveraged between 2:1 and 3:1 by contributions from in-state companies. The Center focused on life sciences is the Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics in Buffalo - a partnership between the State University of New York (SUNY) Buffalo, the New York Health Department's Roswell Park Cancer Institute, and the Hauptman Woodward Medical Research Institute. -- New York State Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research (NYSTAR): The life sciences are among seven technology fields recognized as strategic by NYSTAR. Since the last BIO report in 2001, NYSTAR has disbursed $95 million in one-time capital appropriations for facilities programs, including STAR Centers funded at approximately $15 million each and ARCs (Advanced Research Centers) at the laboratory scale of $1 million to $5 million each. Governor Pataki and legislative leaders agreed on a five-year, multi hundred-million dollar capital funding project that allowed NYSTAR to add new capital funding programs, enabled the Empire State Development Corp. to finance the Governor's Centers of Excellence program, and created a pool from which legislators could direct support to regional initiatives in the life sciences known as Gen*NY*sis. -- Gen*NY*sis (Generating Employment from New York State Science): This program has provided a significant number of grants to a broad range of capital projects, typically as part of a larger financing package being assembled by the sponsoring research or medical institution from federal, state or philanthropic sources. Gen*NY*sis funds have been committed to build a Biotechnology Center at SUNY Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse. "Under Governor George E. Pataki's leadership, New York State has become a world leader in harnessing the strengths of its world-class biotechnology companies and academic research centers to create new innovations and technology," said Russell W. Bessette, M.D., Executive Director of the New York State Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research (NYSTAR). "By providing the right mix of business and academic incentives, Governor Pataki is ensuring that New York will continue to build upon the significant biotechnology gains that have been achieved." The study results can be accessed at http://www.bio.org/speeches/pubs/battelle2004.pdf.