Governor O'Malley Leads Bio Delegation to Atlanta
Governor unveils strategic plan to attract and grow life sciences jobs in Maryland
ATLANTA, GA (May 20, 2009) - Governor Martin O’Malley lead a delegation of 30 Maryland life science companies at the BIO 2009 international convention in Atlanta today. While there, Governor O’Malley announced several important milestones for Maryland’s growing life science community. Addressing a capacity crowd of exhibitors and life science companies on the trade show floor, Governor O’Malley unveiled BioMaryland 2020, a comprehensive industry growth strategy prepared by Maryland’s Life Sciences Advisory Board.
“With our world-class workforce, proximity to federal labs, and more than 400 bioscience companies, Maryland is the best place on the planet to locate and grow a bio enterprise,” said Governor O’Malley. “I’m committed to building on our enviable assets in life sciences to attract companies and high-paying jobs for Marylanders and look forward to working closely with the Board to move these recommendations forward.”
The Governor also announced the creation of Maryland Biotechnology Center, a key element of that strategy, and its new offices in Baltimore City and the Shady Grove Life Sciences Research Park in Montgomery County. Opening in July this summer, the Governor had a chance to preview BioStat, an interactive map directory of all of Maryland’s bioscience assets currently under development to be part of the Center.
“What remains striking about Maryland is its still enormous untapped potential in the biosciences,” said H. Thomas Watkins, Chair of the Maryland Life Sciences Board and President and CEO of Human Genome Sciences, Inc. “Maryland must continue to maintain and strengthen its historic leadership in bioscience research, but must also work harder and smarter to accelerate the rate at which its research strengths translate into viable start-ups, commercialized products, and more mature bioscience companies that are able to grow and sustain themselves profitably over the long term.”
Governor O’Malley formed the 15-member Life Sciences Advisory Board in September, 2007 and charged them with creating a strategic plan for Maryland’s bioscience industry. During that time, the Board has engaged more than 100 industry experts in working groups and held nine public meetings and two public forums to solicit input on the plan. The Board’s strategic priorities include ensuring the sustained growth and future competitiveness of Maryland’s bioscience industry; supporting the creation and growth of innovative bioscience companies by ensuring access to capital; positioning Maryland for global leadership in cutting-edge areas of biosciences research and emerging and growth markets; and advancing bioscience talent generation and workforce development.
BioMaryland 2020 recommends the creation of a BioEntrepreneur Resource Program to provide one-stop assistance to new and emerging companies; establishing the Maryland Life Science Venture Capital Trust to advance investment in Maryland’s bioscience companies and strengthening and advancing BioMaryland – Maryland’s bioscience brand.
A complete copy of the report is now available online at the Department of Business and Economic Development – www.choosemaryland.org.
Governor O’Malley’s visit to BIO 2009 included meetings with several Maryland biotech CEO’s, a public announcement concerning the 2009 World Stem Cell Summit in Baltimore, and an announcement that RNL Bio, Inc will expand operations in Montgomery County. In addition, Governor O’Malley met with Dr. Eli Opper, Israel’s Chief Scientist, where the two discussed expanding trade, investment and joint research between Maryland and Israel in the biotech field.
Since taking office, Governor O’Malley has spearheaded a number of strategic investments in Maryland’s bioscience industry. In addition to creating the Life Science Advisory Board, he previewed the Board’s efforts and early recommendations last June in a 10-year, $1.3 billion strategic initiative for moving Maryland’s bioscience industry forward. Governor O’Malley has been instrumental in securing funding for bio initiatives, including $59 million over three years for Maryland’s Stem Cell Research Fund, $18 million over three years for the popular Biotechnology Tax Credit and $9 million for nanobiotechnology research grants.
Under Governor O’Malley’s leadership, Maryland’s major research parks, including the University of Maryland, Baltimore BioPark, the Science +Technology Park in East Baltimore and the Montgomery College/Germantown Science and Technology Park, have undergone significant expansion. In addition, the State has attracted, or assisted in launch or expansion, of more than 50 bioscience companies in the last two years, including Aeras Global TB Vaccine, OpGen, Life Technologies, Biomere, Akonni Biosystems and Emergent Biosolutions, creating or retaining an estimated 1,800 jobs.
Home to more than 400 bioscience companies and 50 research-intense federal institutes and centers, Maryland is well positioned in the global bioscience industry and has been recognized by the Milken Institute as one of the top tier states highly specialized in overall bioscience development. Since the early 1990s, Maryland has focused on bioscience development and was one of the first states to develop a strategic plan for the industry.
Click here for a complete copy of BioMaryland2020.
