Biotechnology key industry for Atlanta’s future

Next week, the city of Atlanta welcomes the largest global event for the biotechnology industry to the Georgia World Congress Center. The 2009 BIO International Convention attracts the biggest names in biotech.

More than 15,000 life science business people and executives are coming to Atlanta to network with colleagues, develop partnering opportunities, and learn about the major global trends affecting the industry.

A statewide economic development team has worked for several years to bring BIO to our state. Led by the state of Georgia, we join our partners at Georgia BIO, the research universities, the Atlanta Metro Chamber, the Georgia Research Alliance, the Innovation Crescent and others to make this opportunity a success for our state.

Biotechnology has long been a priority for Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, who directed the city’s economic development agency, the Atlanta Development Authority, to support the growth of the life science industry several years ago as part of her comprehensive economic development plan for the city.

The life science industry includes medical device and biopharmaceutical businesses, as well as academic institutions engaged in research and development and manufacturing of products related to human and animal health.

The Atlanta Development Authority regularly collaborates with local and regional partners to expand the life science community in Atlanta. We have partnered with Georgia Tech and Georgia State University to construct new research buildings and complexes.

Technology Enterprise Park, affiliated with Georgia Tech, is home to Altea Therapeutics, CardioMems, Kemira and Saint Joseph’s Translational Research Institute. Georgia State’s life science incubator, Collabtech, is home to businesses like the Medical Device Development Group.

The Morehouse School of Medicine recently attracted a genetic diagnostic business from Seattle. Emory Healthcare’s plans to expand its research presence at its Midtown campus will boost our life science assets.

An exciting development in Atlanta’s efforts to draw more life science businesses to the region is the recent announcement by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents to support the inclusion of 2 million square feet of research space in the planned redevelopment of Fort McPherson.

Fort McPherson is an Army base on 500 acres between downtown Atlanta and Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport that will close in 2011 and be redeveloped.

The redevelopment plans call for Georgia’s universities to create a major research center at Fort McPherson, along with private-sector life science businesses.

There is a significant, coordinated regional and statewide effort to draw more life science businesses to Georgia.

As a founding member of the Innovation Crescent Regional Marketing Partnership, we promote the life science sector from Atlanta to Athens, and we work closely with the McPherson Planning Local Redevelopment Authority.

Atlanta has the key ingredients to attract this industry: large and active research institutions, a highly educated work force, a growing population, available real estate, an efficient construction permitting process, and an airport that gives companies easy access to the world.

By working to attract leading biotech companies to our city and our region, we are investing in Atlanta’s future.

Gregg Simon manages business engagement at the Atlanta Development Authority.