Hopes and Cures

We’d like to welcome readers of SBIRGA to our blog.  If you have read our material, you will understand that we remain neutral on the issue of grant amounts.  We do, however, support agency flexibility.  It should be left to the experts to determine what award amounts are appropriate for promising new projects. 

This is especially true when we look at what individual states are doing.  Many states have recently launched their own biotech initiatives.  We are thrilled to see that these states continue to recognize the potential of the biotechnology sector to their local economy. 

Maryland’s Governor Martin O’Malley just announced a $1.1 billion biotech initiative.  The Frederick News-Post describes this move:

Under the BIO 2020 Initiative, announced by O’Malley on June 16, Maryland will invest $1.1 billion in its bioscience industry over the next 10 years — the largest per capita investment in the biosciences made by any state in the country — to attract and grow biotechnology companies in Maryland.

And straight from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell announced a new state investment of $17.5 million, which:

will help four venture capital companies invest in alternative energy, medical, agriculture, and health care technologies. Through our venture capital initiatives, were providing tools to support early-stage companies in every region of Pennsylvania, Governor Rendell said. Our investment programs hold the promise of building our technology-based economy and positioning us to compete in the global marketplace.

We are excited to see innovation become a priority for these states and look forward to watching other states follow their lead.