GEORGIA'S BIOSCIENCE INDUSTRY
Georgia’s Bioscience Community
Georgia’s Bioscience Networks
Georgia is home to more than 270 bioscience companies due to:
- Advanced Research Infrastructure
- Dynamic Educational Programs
- Highly Skilled Workforce
Georgia provides an increasingly strong environment to the industry.
Georgia continues to build a thriving bioscience industry due in part to research that exceed $1 billion and a successful parttnership between industry and academia.
Recent growth in bioscience companies has outpaced other industries in Georgia. The bioscience industry makes up a relatively small part of the state's overall economy but clearly the growth potential remains impressive:
- From 2001-2005, the bioscience industry grew in by 38.4% compared to the national average growth rate of just 20%
- State industry employment grew by 8.5% while the average for all industries in Georgia was just 1.6%
- Currently the bioscience industry has 15,000 employees. When the public sector is included that number doubles to 30,000
- Total wages in Georgia have increased by 29.9% versus 13% for all industries
Georgia Bioscience Products
- Sales reached $7 billion in 2007
- Currently there are160 products on the market
- There are another 300 products in development or pending approval
- Products currently on the market
Georgia’s Bioscience Community
The bioscience community in Georgia is a rich mix of:
- Pharmaceutical
- Medical device
- Diagnostic and medical supply companies
- Emerging bioscience companies
- Contract laboratory
- Preclinical and clinical research organizations
- World-class public and private research institutions and universities
Atlanta is home to the headquarters of the premier public health research institute in the world, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Atlanta is also home to the headquarters of several nonprofit organizations including the American Cancer Society, the Carter Center, the Arthritis Foundation and CARE.
Georgia’s Bioscience Networks
Georgia’s bioscience companies are supported through an effective network of institutions and organizations, including the Georgia Research Alliance, Georgia Bio, Georgia Cancer Coalition, and the Georgia Intellectual Capital Partnership program.
The Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) is a unique nonprofit organization which brings together Georgia’s research universities, business community, and state government to create opportunities to grow Georgia’s economy through scientific discovery.
GRA Eminent Scholars® program brings pre-eminent scientists to Georgia’s research universities and provide them with the tools they need to lead research and development programs with the greatest potential for generating significant economic gains for Georgia and Georgians. To date the program has recruited 57 GRA Eminent Scholars® in diverse fields including vaccine development, molecular biotechnology, crop genomics, drug discovery, medical imaging, animal health and biomedical engineering.
Georgia Research Alliance VentureLab program helps build high-growth companies around laboratory discoveries.
Georgia Bio, the Life Sciences Partnership (GaBio) is the private, non-profit association representing the life sciences industry in Georgia. Its 300 members include pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device companies, universities, research institutes, government groups and other business organizations involved in the development of products that improve healthcare, agriculture, industrial and bioenergy production and environmental management.
Georgia Cancer Coalition leads the state’s effective use of resources to improve cancer prevention, early detection and screening. It offers access to quality cancer care and treatment, caregiver training and public education, as well as cutting-edge cancer research and biotechnology business incubation.
Georgia Intellectual Capital Partnership Program (ICAPP) works with companies to create customized, accelerated curricula at Georgia’s 70 public colleges and universities.