Triad: Biotech Capital of the World?
That is what local boosters would like everyone to think. Chamber heads, entrepreneurs and politicians wrote a hagiography last night of the industry at the first Bio Night dinner.
Lt. Gov. Bev Perdue gave a speech designed to boost the region's self-esteem...our universities are "unparalleled"...Piedmont Triad research Park is, you got it..."unparalleled."
And then Gayle Anderson, president of the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce, capped off the evening by gloating that we have 500 more biotech jobs than Charlotte. 500! Who cares if they have thousands more high paying financial services jobs.
Financing for biotech companies exists now. It didn't five years ago.
And the region does have some stars, like testing company Lab Corp.
But let's get real.
Aside from Wake Forest, heavy duty research funding goes to N.C. State, Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill and out of state. We are far from "unparalleled."
And competition is fiercer than ever. The brightest science students, many of whom hail from overseas, are choosing to go to school at home and stay there to work as academics as job prospects improve.
Research Triangle Park envy may be a big motivator, but infrastructure is what is going to attract business. That will take a coordinated effort by business and government, as seen by the success of RTP. With regionalism no more than a rhetorical commitment at this point, however, the area has a long slog toward becoming the next Silicon Valley.
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You can try the link below to get an idea on how the different states rank according to the number of biotech jobs:
http://jobs.biohealthmatics.com/Trends/JSRC13Y0000M00S0.aspx
Posted on October 18, 2005 5:56 PM