Ohio's Bioscience Industry Effort Paying Off With Increase in Graduates and Accolades for the State

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Known for decades as a manufacturing state, Ohio is positioning itself to emerge from the recession as an innovative leader in the jobs market. A recent Forbes article ranked Columbus, Ohio third in the nation for technology jobs with very optimistic outlooks for other major Ohio cities. The magazine credits the fact that Columbus and the other top contenders are home to major research universities.

Another contributing factor is the commitment Ohio has made to the state's bioscience industry. A decision made more than a decade ago that is making an impact locally, nationally and globally. 

The bioscience industry is Ohio's fastest-growing industry in virtually all ways, according to Anthony Dennis, president and CEO of BioOhio, the state's economic development agency for biosciences. "Every year, our bioscience companies and research institutions create jobs, export products and services, and deliver game-changing treatments to the marketplace and, most importantly, to patients," said Dennis. 

That success is spilling over into Ohio universities with the number of bioscience undergraduates on the rise. Its vast number of higher education opportunities bolsters Ohio's bioscience strength. Two-year, four-year, graduate and advanced degree programs produce an education and workforce pipeline necessary to build a bioscience organization, and to grow Ohio's bioscience industry into an international leader.

Each day, Ohio bioscience organizations contribute to technological advances benefiting the health and well-being of Ohioans, Americans and the citizens of the world. Emerging in the Columbus area recently were Ohio State University spinout company Nanofiber Solutions and Scotland-based advanced prosthetics maker Touch Bionics. Both companies have made global headlines with their innovative advances. In November 2011, Nanofiber Solutions played a key role in the world's second successful synthetic trachea transplant. The Columbus firm designed and built the nanofiber tracheal scaffold in which a cancer patient's own stem cells were grown before the transplantation on November 17th in Stockholm. 30-year-old, Christopher Lyles, from Baltimore, Maryland is making a good recovery. "It is an honor to contribute to this life-saving procedure," Nanofiber Solutions CEO Ross Kayuha said. "Successfully implanting a synthetic trachea using a patient's own stem cells is a significant milestone for regenerative medicine."

Despite challenging domestic and international economic climates, Ohio's bioscience industry remained stable, with categorical growth fueled by strategic state investment, favorable industry trends, and a qualified and plentiful workforce.

The bioscience sector is relatively small compared to other sectors in Ohio, but it is continuously growing. Currently more than 1,345 bioscience firms operate at 1,800 locations in Ohio, up from 1,115 firms operating 1,290 locations in 2000. Bioscience companies with operations in Ohio range from innovative start-ups supported by biotech incubators to emerging stars — like Meridian Bioscience, Atricure, Diagnostic Hybrids and Ganeden Biotech — to some of the largest corporations in the world — like Cardinal Health, P&G, Boehringer-Ingelheim and Abbott. Bioscience employment in Ohio has grown 19.5% since 2000, in contrast to a decline of 8.6% in total employment in Ohio. 

Also increasing are the number of specialized graduates. According to BioOhio, in 2010, Ohio institutions awarded 8,088 bioscience related degrees, up 395 from the previous year. Comparing 2010 to 2006, the number of earned degrees has increased by nearly 26%. This is good news for growing bioscience companies already in Ohio as well as those outside of Ohio looking for fertile ground to expand. Educated and abundant talent is in Ohio, and ready to work.

Abundant access to capital through private sources and state programs such as Ohio Third Frontier is another factor fueling growth of Ohio's biomedical science industry. Between January 2002 and June 2010, over $650 million of Ohio Third Frontier funds were competitively awarded to support bioscience-related development and commercialization initiatives. In May 2010, Ohioans voted to extend the Ohio Third Frontier with an additional $700 million over four years starting in 2012. This expansion will use debt financing to help fund "innovation centers" at state universities and invest in start-up companies involved in biomedical, alternative energy and other high-tech fields, anticipating these investments will continue to grow and develop quality jobs.

Bioscience companies located in Ohio also benefit from the state's central location supported by a world-class logistics infrastructure, easy access to markets and supply chains, a highly skilled workforce, and public/private sector leadership committed to business and policy innovation across diverse economic sectors.

Ohio's success is not solely dependent on the strength of its business advantages. Today's bioscience graduates and industry leaders have made Ohio a top choice to pursue their personal goals as well.

"It's impossible to achieve work-life when commuting takes two to four hours out of each work day, as it easily can in coastal cities and states," said Ed Burghard, executive director of the Ohio Business Development Coalition, the nonprofit organization that markets the state for capital investment. "In Ohio, you have the time and resources to achieve professional success without sacrificing a rich and fulfilling personal life."

About the Ohio Business Development Coalition

The Ohio Business Development Coalition is a nonprofit organization that provides marketing strategy and implementation to support Ohio's economic development efforts. For more information, visit www.ohiomeansbusiness.com.

SOURCE Ohio Business Development Coalition