Delaware / Hudson Valley Hot Spot for biotechnology
New Jersey, part of the greater Delaware / Hudson Valley region, is a world leader in research and development in the biotechnology industry. With close proximity to the nation's financial center, a highly skilled labor pool, immense technological resources, access to important research centers and global transportation, government-funded programs and initiatives, and prominent advocacy groups, the region is an ideal location for biotechnology companies and employees.
The Delaware/Hudson Valley region offers excellent resources for biotechnology companies including advocacy organizations such as the Biotechnology Council of New Jersey and the New Jersey Coalition for Biotechnology, which are made up of various organizations around the state looking to promote New Jersey's image and standing in the industry. The Biotechnology Council of New Jersey also works in collaboration with surrounding states to enhance the climate for biotechnology in the region through lobbying efforts to encourage pro-biotech legislation. Through the promotional efforts and outreach assistance of BCNJ, its member companies and the state of New Jersey have received national recognition for creating a favorable environment for the industry's growth.
The Biotechnology Council of New Jersey and the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Association annually host a joint symposium, the largest regional biotechnology meeting in the country.
The Delaware / Hudson Valley region attracts biotechnology companies due to its high concentration of scientists and a highly skilled labor pool.New Jersey is home to more scientists and engineers per square mile than anywhere else in the world. High-tech firms employ 1 in 10 private sector workers in New Jersey and companies choose from employees from some of the nation's finest institutions of higher learning. The region also offers a rich academic environment, housing prestigious colleges and universities like Princeton University and Rutgers University and advanced technology centers such as The Technology Centre in North Brunswick, NJ and the two major cities of Philadelphia and New York City. Known as the "medicine chest of the world", the region houses a wealth of pharmaceutical and medical technology companies, including New Jersey where 17 of the 20 largest pharmaceutical companies in the world have major facilities.
The large concentration of pharmaceutical companies offers opportunities for joint ventures, recruiting and research for biotechnology companies. The success of biotechnology in the region is due largely to innovative and supportive government programs and policies. Other states in the Delaware/Hudson Valley region will likely follow suit with programs, similar to those in New Jersey where government officials have taken steps to ensure that the state is an ideal location for biotechnology companies. The Biotechnology Council of New Jersey was instrumental in the establishment of the Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program, which is currently being promoted at the national level and offers tax benefits to provide a new source of monies to small and mid-sized biotechnology companies by allowing them to sell net operating loss credits to profitable companies for cash.State authorities have demonstrated a consistent commitment to promoting and growing the industry in this region.
| rank | company | # of NJ Employees | # of Employees Worldwide | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Merck & CO., Inc | 23,000 | 62,300 | 1891 |
| 02 | Johnson & Johnson | 11,000 | 99,000 | 1886 |
| 03 | Bristol-Myers Squibb | 8,0000 | n/a | 1905 |
| 04 | Schering-Plough Corporation | 6,000 | 26,500 | 1971 |
| 05 | Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. | 3,500 | 82,400 | 997 |
| 06 | Hoffman-LaRoche, Inc. | 3,400 | 66,400 | 1905 |
| 07 | Warner-Lambert Company | 3,100 | n/a | 1920 |
| 08 | American Home Products Corp. | 3,000 | 47,000 | 1926 |
| 09 | Aventis Pharmaceuticals | 2,000 | 72,000 | 1999 |
| 10 | Pharmacia Corporation | 1,400 | 60,000 | 2000 |
The Delaware/Hudson Valley region attracts life science workers from across the nation with its access to culture, entertainment, economic and transportation centers like Philadelphia and New York City, close proximity to our nation's capital and a wealth of opportunities in the biotechnology industry. The number of biotechnology employees in New Jersey alone jumped 25% from 6,000 to 7,500 in the past year and the state houses 110 biotechnology companies, making it the fourth-largest biotechnology center in the nation.
The pharmaceutical and medical technology industry supports 140,000 jobs in New Jersey and the region also attracts employees due to its high standard of living. The average biotechnology worker there earns $83,300 and the median household income in New Jersey is the second highest in the nation. Coupled with pharmaceutical employees, the state is home to a total of nearly 150,000 employees in the pharmaceutical/ biotechnology field.
New Jersey, along with the Delaware/Hudson Valley is a pharmaceutical powerhouse, has close proximity to financial markets and a highly skilled labor pool.
The region houses immense technological resources, government funded programs and initiatives and prominent advocacy groups. With unparalleled resources, the region is the ideal location for biotechnology companies and life science workers.
Delaware - Smaller, Quicker, Smarter for Bioscience
Ideally located in the heart of the East Coast life science corridor, Delaware is at the center of a growing and diverse bioscience community. Situated between New York and Washington and within a two-hour drive of 80 percent of the US pharmaceutical industry, Delaware is home to a thriving industrial and academic research base.
Delaware has launched a statewide research and development initiative to position the state as a leader in biosciences. In 2003, AstraZeneca will occupy the initial 850,000 square feet of its planned 1,850,000 square foot expansion for its US headquarters and research and development center. Additionally, DuPont has secured expansion approval for 600,000 square feet of laboratory facilities in Delaware. The Delaware Biotechnology Institute (DBI), an interdisciplinary initiative of the private sector, government and academia, opened its new research facility in Newark, Delaware earlier this year.
Through a $65 million start-up investment by the state of Delaware, the University of Delaware and private industry, the DBI has established a network of academic and industrial scientists and researchers, with research focused in agriculture, human health, marine ecosystems, and biomaterials. The institute is positioned at the convergence of engineering, computer science and biology to create knowledge and ideas from the vast amount of genomics and proteomics data.
Loated within the Delaware Technology Park, adjacent to the University of Delaware campus, DBI shares the campus with 30 small and medium-sized information technology and biotechnology companies. Just recently, Fraunhofer USA, a subsidiary of the German Fraunhofer Society, selected the Delaware Technology Park as the home for two of their US-based research centers, focused on materials, nanotechnology, and molecular biology.
This year Delaware State University will continue with plans to add a technology incubator for early-stage companies at its Dover location with ties to the Applied Optics Center, one of several Advanced Technology Centers in the State. In addition, Delaware Technology Community College is developing curriculum and training for laboratory technicians.
Several publicly and privately-owned technology parks are under development throughout the state to attract bioscience companies. Available sites range in size from five to more than 500 acres. Along with the well-established Delaware Technology Park, all welcome bioscience companies interested in locating their businesses in Delaware.
Delaware is now looking at additional legislation to assist biotech firms through the challenging product development period. In terms of workforce, Delaware's business community includes the largest per capita concentration of science and engineering PhDs, is sixth highest in the nation for young PhDs, and has the highest patent rate per capital in the United States.
Accessible government combined with high quality of life and low cost of living, low taxes, and a strategic location on the East Coast make Delaware an attractive location for incubation, relocation and expansion of the bioscience community.
