TALLAHASSEE – Governor Charlie Crist today announced Senator Jeremy Ring as the chair of the Task Force for the Study of Biotech Competitiveness. Created by the 2007 Florida Legislature, the task force will study economic policies necessary for increasing Florida’s competitiveness in attracting and retaining biotech manufacturing and distribution businesses.
“The number of biotech companies that have chosen to establish a presence in the Sunshine State demonstrates our success in strengthening Florida’s attractiveness to the world’s top R&D organizations,” Governor Crist said. “We must continue to focus on ensuring Florida maintains a competitive edge, while securing the biotech industry’s key role in our economic development strategy.”
The 17-member task force will also evaluate Florida’s education and workforce training opportunities to ensure a workforce prepared for jobs in biotech. The task force will recommend changes to the state’s corporate tax structure, water policies and health insurance policies to ensure they support the biotech industry.
“Now more than ever we must rely on innovation to strengthen our economy," Senator Ring said. "Floridians should be proud of the investments made in biotech, to help assure long-term economic stability and growth.”
The task force’s recommendations are due to the Governor, Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives by January 1, 2009. The task force members – seven appointed by the Governor and five appointed by the each the President of the Senate and five by the Speaker of the House – will receive assistance from the Governor’s Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development.
About Florida's Biotech Business Hub
In December 2007, Governor Crist announced the creation of the Florida Max Planck Institute of Bio-imaging in Jupiter, followed by announcements of VGTI Florida’s expansion to Port St. Lucie in January 2008, the creation of the University of Miami Human Genomics Institute in February 2008. In July 2008, the Cambridge, Mass.-based Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc. announced plans to establish the BioMEMS R&D Center at the University of South Florida in Tampa and Multi Chip Module (MCM) Center in St. Petersburg.
Other biotech organizations that have established a research and development presence in Florida include the Scripps Research Institute, the Burnham Institute for Medical Research and Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies.
Source: bioBUZZ: News from bioOrlando - bioOrlando is a council ofMetro Orlando Economic Development Commission
http://www.bioorlando.com/
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