“America Speaks” Poll Shows Health Research is Key to Economic Recovery

Posted under biotech jobs, Blog, Companies, Diagnostics, economic growth, economy, Funding, Health, Health Care, jobs, Medical Devices, Medical Supply, Pharmaceuticals, public health, research, Startups, STEM, STEM Education, Universities, Videos by biotechnow@bio.org (Biotechnology Industry Organization)

By Mary Woolley, President of Research!America

Research!America’s 12th edition of America Speaks, an annual summary of our public opinion polls, shows that Americans are deeply concerned about our country’s ability to create jobs and compete globally. In fact, 77 percent of those polled say that the U.S. is losing its competitive edge in science, technology and innovation and more than half of Americans (58 percent) do not believe we are making enough progress in medical research. Furthermore, the majority of Americans believe investing in health research (86 percent) is important to job creation and economic recovery.

So much is at stake right now: our economic future, U.S. jobs and our global leadership. In this election year, we must make advancing health research a priority and part of the national dialogue.

As federal funding tightens, we are compromising discovery and the development of new products, which is important to patients and businesses alike. Incentives for industries to conduct research, including efforts to make the research and development tax credit permanent, are supported by many Americans. And most are willing to support higher taxes for research. Half of those surveyed said they would be willing to pay $1 per week more in taxes if they were certain their money would be spent for additional medical research.

Our public opinion polls indicate that Americans want viable solutions to improve our health, health care system and the economy. They see research as part the solution to rising health care costs and would like to see more of the health dollar dedicated toward research.

Similarly, careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) continue to receive broad support among Americans who believe the federal government should place more emphasis on increasing the number of young Americans who pursue these fields.

Other findings in America Speaks show:

• 91 percent of Americans believe that research and development are important to their state’s economy;
• 84 percent of Americans think it is important to invest in regulatory science to ensure the safety and efficiency of the drug and device development process; and
• 87 percent of Americans think it is important that elected officials at all levels listen to advice from scientists and public health professionals;

These findings provide validation that Americans do not want to settle, and see their country fall behind in research and innovation. They want their country to remain resolute in its commitment toward advancing science and innovation.

As we face more budgetary challenges for health research in 2012, the community of stakeholders in research must continue to make the case that investing in health research will not only support the health of our nation, but also the prosperity of our country for years to come. Your voice from the front lines of science is essential in conveying what we could gain or lose with a robust or flat federal health budget and a sound and globally-competitive policy structure.

I invite you to take a look at our poll data summary, America Speaks, Volume 12 and to join the conversation about making research a priority this election season. Candidates who are running for office this year must hear from scientists and other stakeholders in the science enterprise; those who are elected without hearing from scientists are unlikely to become champions for science once they take office! Tell candidates why science is the key to better, more affordable health, and is key to driving the US economy. Please visit: http://www.researchamerica.org/uploads/AmericaSpeaksV12.pdf

Mary Woolley is the president of Research!America, the nation’s largest nonprofit public education and advocacy alliance working to make research to improve health a higher national priority.

Illinois Sees Biotech as Key to Job Growth

Posted under Biotechnology, Blog, Business and Investments, Business of Biotech, Companies, Diagnostics, Funding, Illinois, jobs, Medical Devices, Medical Supply, Pharmaceuticals, Startups, Universities, Videos by biotechnow@bio.org (Biotechnology Industry Organization)

For every job created in the biotech industry, up to five additional jobs are created to build research facilities; maintain laboratory and computer equipment; supply laboratory and office equipment, and provide basic services to even the most modest biotechnology facilities.

David Miller of the Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization is well aware of the above statistic. He shared his views on the challenges and payoffs tied to establishing Chicago as a high-tech employment hub earlier this month at conference held at Northwestern University.

Read more about this conference here.
Learn more about BIO’s State Legislative Best Practices in Support of Bioscience Industry Development.

Cornell to Build Applied Sciences Campus in NYC

Posted under Blog, Bloomberg, Business and Investments, campus, Companies, Cornell, Diagnostics, Funding, jobs, Medical Devices, Medical Supply, Pharmaceuticals, Startups, Universities, Videos by biotechnow@bio.org (Biotechnology Industry Organization)

Earlier this week New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that the city will be providing land for the development of a multi-billion dollar high-tech science college.

The science and research facility to be built on little-used property on Roosevelt Island is hoped to become a leading incubator for high-tech research and innovation.

Plans are for classes to start in 2012, although the campus will take years to be completed. By 2018 it aims to serve 300 students. When fully operational, the school will have 2,000 students and 300 faculty members.

Cornell University and its partner Technion-Israel Institute of Technology were chosen from six competing bids to build an applied sciences campus that officials hope will transform the city into a center for entrepreneurship and technology innovation to rival California’s Silicon Valley.

The city will put $100 million toward campus construction. It will create nearly 20,000 temporary construction jobs and 8,000 permanent jobs. The new school will spawn more than $23 billion in economic activity over the next three decades, with $1.4 billion in total tax revenue, and hopes to spin out around 600 new companies.

The university doesn’t plan on borrowing to finance the project, but will rely on tuition and philanthropy, technology license fees and corporate partnerships.

To get a better understanding of the expected benefits that will emerge from this unique institution, I spoke with Nathan Tinker, Executive Director of the New York Biotechnology Association. The trade association that he leads is dedicated to the development and growth of New York state’s biotechnology industries and institutions.

Listen to the podcast interview where Nathan Tinker, Executive Director of the New York Biotechnology Association discusses the benefits and payoffs from research incubators.

Read more about the announcement and partnership