Think tank says (Seattle) region's biotech sector poised to grow

[icymist]

Tuesday, June 8, 2004

Think tank says region's biotech sector poised to grow

By JOHN COOK
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

The Seattle biotechnology sector may not be as strong as those in Boston, San Diego or San Jose.

But researchers at the Milken Institute -- an economic think tank that yesterday issued a 107-page study on biotechnology clusters -- believe Seattle's life-science corridor is well-rounded and poised for growth.

In a comprehensive report that analyzed everything from patent citations to Ph.D.s, the Puget Sound region ranked fifth of 12 regions studied. The Seattle area did not receive a No. 1 ranking in any of the 44 sub-categories, but it did not rank last in any measurement, either. The region performed best in the research and development category (third) and worst in human capital (eighth).

San Diego -- home to the Salk Institute, the University of California-San Diego and 14,542 biotechnology employees -- ranked first in the study. Austin, Texas, ranked last.

Seattle's solid showing surprised Perry Wong, one of the five authors of the report.

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