The Contributions of the Biosciences in Colorado

Bioscience encompasses four sectors of industry in Colorado: biotechnology, medical devices, pharmaceuticals and agricultural biotechnology. Products from this industry include:

• Biologics, which use biological processes to solve problems or make useful products;
• Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices;
• Diagnostic Equipment
• And crops engineered to increase yield.

Bioscience companies in Colorado are engaged in research, developement, and/or production in all of these areas.

Colorado Bioscience Companies

Nearly three hundred and eighty bioscience companies make their home under the gaze of the Rocky Mountains. These companies are conducting cutting edge research to find cures to diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and infectious diseases; improve agricultural yields; and develop cleaner, more efficient manufacturing methods.

80% of the state's bioscience jobs are clustered along the metro corridor of Fort Collins, Denver, Boulder, and Colorado Springs. Easy access to research universities and good supply of qualified employees make these cities a natural for partnerships between academia and private enterprise, which are critical for scientific research and technology transfer. The new Fitzsimons BioBusiness Incubator in Aurora is dedicated to forming and growing companies statewide.

Academic Institutions

Bioscience firms tend to geographically concentrate around academic health centers and research universities and Colorado’s concentration provides a basis for further building a critical mass. Colorado has fostered a healthy partnership between academia and the private sector to speed basic science discoveries into novel treatments for patients. The University of Colorado system is home to significant research centers that support Colorado’s biopharmaceutical industry. The Colorado Alliance for Bioengineering is responsible for the coordination of biotech activities among faculty in all universities throughout the state, while the Colorado Bioprocessing Center at the Colorado State University in Fort Collins develops therapeutic compounds and biologics for biotech companies.

Colorado Bioscience Indicators

Several national reports have rated Colorado economic development in the top tiers of commitment to technology industry growth:

Entrepreneurial Expertise

Entrepreneurship development is a key element in the on-going efforts by Colorado state and regional government efforts to retain and grow local biosciences companies. Entrepreneurial capacity and behavior are prime drivers of economic growth and job creation and see the economic potential of new technologies and apply them to business concept innovation.

Research and Technology Transfer

All Colorado academic institutions are driving research and technology transfer. The following graph and table are illustrative of tech transfer occurring at universities across the state of Colorado.

Additional Resources:

The following links provide additional information about the state of the bioscience industry in Colorado. The Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation has identified Bioscience as one of the top 5 cutting edge industries in the State. They have developed a webpage, "Bioscience; Success in our Genes" to provide an overview of the industry. Included on their site is a report titled "Bioscience: Industry Cluster Profile" which has proven to be a useful tool to showcase the industry.

Additionally, the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) commissioned a report titled "Growing the Nation’s Bioscience Sector: State Bioscience Initiatives 2006", by Battelle Technology Partnership Practice and SSTI. The 2006 report presents updated data, examines growth trends, and identifies metropolitan areas with the largest and most concentrated employment in each of the bioscience subsectors.

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