DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Colorado now ranks in the second tier of Bioscience States, out of five tiers, and is only one of three states that grew more than 1,000 new jobs in its Medical Device sector. The announcement is made by Holli Riebel, President and CEO of the Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA), who references Battelle/BIO industry data released last week in Boston: “Further, in the Medical Device sector, our state showed over 16.1% growth in employment from 2001-2010; 14.7% from 2007- 2010."
According to the new data, the number of Colorado's Medical Device establishments grew by 19.5% since 2001. Other areas of growth were Ag-bio which grew 46.9% in employment from 2001-2010 and 28.6% from 07-2010. Research and Testing in Colorado also grew at 1.9% from 2007-2010. Drugs and Pharmaceuticals declined by .5% from 01-2010 but at a slower rate nationally which declined at 3.1%. From 07-10 Colorado declined in this sector by 5.5% but again at a slower decline than the national rate of -7%.
In total, Colorado's Bioscience Industry grew 4.6% in employment from 2007-2010 to nearly 27,000 total jobs, compared to a national decline in jobs in the industry by -1.4% in the same period, and a -6.8% decline in employment in the private sector nationally.
The "Battelle/BIO State Bioscience Industry Development 2012" report was released at the BIO International Convention in Boston. The Project Team assembling the information included Battelle, the world’s largest nonprofit independent research and development organization; BIO—Biotechnology Industry Organization—representing more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations; and PMP Public Affairs Consulting, Inc., an independent consulting firm serving the public and constituent relations needs of bioscience-related companies and associations.
The full report is available at http://www.bio.org/sites/default/files/v3battelle-bio_2012_industry_development.pdf. The Colorado specific pages are 56 and 57.
Growth Continues in 2012
Colorado's robust Bioscience Industry, as exemplified by the report, is further demonstrated with these three local company expansions announced to-date in 2012:
-
Bal Seal Engineering - June 2012
This California-based manufacturer of Bal Seal Canted Coil Springs® and spring-loaded connectors, which carry electric current in pacemakers and other medical devices, plans to expand late next year into the $45 million, 155,000-square-foot plant in Colorado Springs. The company selected Colorado Springs because of the area's business-friendly government agencies, well-trained workforce and the availability of local community colleges and universities. -
AlloSource - May 2012
A leading developer, processor, and distributor of bone and soft-tissue allografts for use in surgical procedures around the world. The expansion includes a renovation of existing building and a new, two-story 70,000-square-foot building adjacent to the Centennial headquarters to open in September. AlloSource provides employment for more than 400 people in Colorado and another 50-plus positions at satellite offices around the U.S. -
Covidien PLC - March 2012
A leading manufacturer of medical devices, opened a new 63,000-square-foot research and development center in Boulder. The R&D Innovation Center is one of 24 worldwide, and will have 160 employees and 18 laboratories. -
DaVita - January 2012
DaVita Clinical Research - July 2012
A Fortune 500 provider of dialysis services, relocated its headquarters to Denver from California in 2009. DaVita Clinical Research announced the opening of its new research center at the St. Anthony Central Hospital campus in Lakewood. Set to open in the third quarter of 2012, the new 80-bed, 36,000-square-foot facility will be used for drug development and to test new products for specialty populations, employing 58 executive and medical professionals.
In addition to specific companies, Colorado is also expanding its industry infrastructure. The Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority will open its new 37,000 square-foot Accelerator building at the Bioscience Park Center in July. The original Incubator building opened in 2000 and now houses 35 companies in different stages of development. The expansion will enable companies to move into larger, long-term space. The new space includes:
- Built-to-suit spaces with access to incubator services and amenities
- World class resources at your finger tips
- Collaborative environment with complimentary business and networking opportunities
The Park is designed to foster a collaborative environment—by having established companies in close proximity to incubator startups will further promote an essential atmosphere that makes the Colorado Science & Technology Park at Fitzsimons an important hub in the overall growth of Colorado’s bioscience industry.
“These elements together with over 600 bioscience companies, led by the best in the industry, generate a critical mass that really puts Colorado on the map. We're proud to announce our industry achievements and create a dialog with investors and partners that Colorado is a great place for bioscience," Riebel explains.
About Colorado BioScience Association
CBSA is a not-for-profit organization providing services and support for Colorado's bioscience industry. With more than 350 members, CBSA actively works to promote the growth of the industry by advocating for a better business environment, growing the state's biotech workforce, fighting for policies that support a strong bioscience industry in the state, and speaking with a single voice on behalf of the industry. For more information, visit http://www.cobioscience.com.
CBSA also is found on these social media sites:
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/COBioscience
LinkedIn
Group: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=98468&trk=anet_ug_grppro
Facebook
Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/ColoradoBioScienceAssociation
News
Feed: http://coloradobio.blogspot.com
YouTube
Channel: http://www.youtube.com/COBioscience
Pinterest:
http://pinterest.com/COBioscience