Guest column: Biotechnology must be cornerstone of state's economy

March 17, 2006
Green Bay Press Gazette

Wisconsin has a great story to tell people across the world as we seek to expand the biotechnology and medical device industries in our state. We have resources in these sectors that other states, regions and countries can only dream about having. Wisconsin has an unmatched combination of resources, knowledge, researchers, licensing expertise, infrastructure, education and quality of life for attracting and expanding the life science sector in the state.

FierceBiotech, a leading life science industry bulletin, just named Wisconsin as one of the five places in the world best positioned to be a hotbed of biotech innovation. That banner is underscored with the National Institutes of Health choosing Wisconsin as the location for the one and only National Stem Cell Bank. Additionally, businesses are putting their stamp of approval on Wisconsin's emerging life science sector through their investment.

Two high-profile examples include GE Healthcare's new 475,000-square-foot facility in the Milwaukee County Research Park that will eventually house 2,000 employees, and Abbott Laboratories' purchase of about 500 acres in southeastern Wisconsin in anticipation of creating a business campus that could someday create over 12,000 high-paying jobs.

Many readers have heard the major strengths that are regularly cited regarding Wisconsin's life sciences. The University of Wisconsin-Madison ranks third among public universities in research funding and the Medical College of Wisconsin, The Blood Research Institute, UW-Milwaukee, Marquette University and The Marshfield Clinic are research leaders as well. The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation and UW-Madison rank third nationally, in terms of the value of inventions created by faculty members, and estimates are that more than $1 billion in products based on UW-Madison research are sold annually under license from the alumni foundation.

Wisconsin is also investing in the future of the life sciences as evidenced by just a few examples of the exciting projects under way. The Wisconsin Institute for Discovery in Madison will include specialists in biochemistry, nanotechnology, computer engineering and bioinformatics. It will be built and financed over 10 years, with support from state and private funds totaling $375 million. A new $134 million HealthStar Interdisciplinary Research Complex will be built near the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics in Madison.

It will be dedicated to innovation and rapid transfer of medical science discoveries into clinical applications. The Medical College of Wisconsin and Children's Hospital in Milwaukee have broken ground on a $132 million research facility that will focus on infectious disease control, cardiovascular illnesses and bioengineering. Several southeastern Wisconsin research institutions have also partnered to create the Biomedical Technology Alliance to facilitate joint research among its members.

Wisconsin is clearly building a unique and healthy environment for biotechnology and medical device firms with nearly 250 companies in these industries being included in a business directory Forward Wisconsin is compiling. Wisconsin offers a great alternative nationally to the large biotech centers across the U.S. with a lower cost of living and superior quality of life. Clearly, there is a great opportunity to move forward and build upon Wisconsin's success in the life sciences by informing those worldwide about Wisconsin's biotech strengths, but someone has to tell the story. That is the role Forward Wisconsin is playing by spearheading our state's presence at BIO 2006 on April 9-12 in Chicago.

Wisconsin's largest business marketing effort ever will take place at the BIO 2006 conference. BIO 2006 — the largest gathering of biotechnology leaders in the world — will bring together more than 20,000 biotech professionals, venture capitalists, university researchers, academics and business developers from more than 60 countries. The attendees are converging on the Windy City to seek financing, joint ventures, customers, partnerships and ideas to further develop the biotechnology industry. Wisconsin's objective at the BIO 2006 conference is to proudly let the biotech world know that our state has a strong and emerging biotechnology sector and all the expertise, research and resources to support it. We will be putting Wisconsin on biotech's worldwide stage.

Wisconsin's marketing initiative will be funded by public and private funds and will feature a delegation of more than 150 Wisconsin business people, medical doctors, scientists, economic development professionals, university representatives and government officials. Gov. Jim Doyle and stem cell pioneer Dr. James Thomson will lead the Wisconsin contingent to Chicago to promote Wisconsin's life science resources and our leadership in the area of stem cells. The Wisconsin Department of Commerce is providing significant financial and other support to the overall marketing effort. UW-Madison, the Wisconsin Biotechnology and Medical Device Association and the Wisconsin Technology Council lead a list of 50 other exhibitors, sponsors and partners in the large undertaking.

With more visibility for Wisconsin's resources in the biotechnology field at BIO 2006, the objective is to create the pipeline for additional venture capital, intellectual capital, businesses and professionals to come to the state in the life sciences and create an even larger sector with more opportunities and economic benefit. To say the competition for becoming the next biotechnology center is intense would probably be an understatement. The nature of the competition is clear with 50 states and over 60 countries having a presence at the event pursuing biotechnology, businesses, capital, life science talent, research dollars and high-wage jobs that come along with it. Yet, while many countries and other states are pursuing biotechnology, very few have the competitive advantages that we have here in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin's tradition of supporting research, our growing base of life science firms, excellent educational system, wonderful quality of life and the best talent anywhere in the world, have created the foundation for our state to excel and make biotechnology a cornerstone of the state's future economy. But most importantly, as a state we must extend a welcome to the world that Wisconsin is the place for them to be. Let's not make a mistake and let this opportunity slip away.

Pepi Randolph is president of Forward Wisconsin, Madison. Prior to joining Forward Wisconsin, was assistant vice president of the investment division at M&I Bank in Milwaukee and assistant general counsel for the Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club. His law degree is from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School. He also has bachelor's degrees in history and journalism.