Site Expansion - Regional Round-Up: Maryland

Published on: 
BioPharm International, BioPharm International-02-01-2004, Volume 17, Issue 2

Regional Round-Up: Maryland

Population5,458,137
Workforce2,914,323
Unemployment rate4.1%
Key cities and populationsPrimary Metropolitan Statistical Areas: Baltimore: 2,552,994; Washington, DC-Maryland-Virginia-West Virginia: 4,923,153
Targeted industriesVery strong genomics, proteomics, drug discovery and biodefense industries; continued commitment to promoting R&D, biomanufacturing, and pharmaceutical presence; new emphasis on agricultural biotechnology as well as industrial and environmental bioapplications
Biopharm employmentMore than 80,000 (half in private sector, half in government research/academia)
Academia and government affiliated with biopharm industryNational Institutes of Health The Johns Hopkins University; University System of Maryland US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick Edgewood Army Chemical and Biological Defense Command Walter Reed Army Institute of Research FDA USDA
Primary business strengths3rd largest US industry cluster; highest US concentration of bioscience educated workforce; competitive cost savings on East Coast operations; easy access to rail and air transportation; low personal income tax rate; low corporate income tax structure
Tax and other incentivesMultiple programs individually tailored to each business
BioClustersMost of Marylands bioscience industry lies within a 30 mile (50 km) radius between the cities of Washington, DC, Frederick, MD, and Baltimore, MD; approximately two-thirds of this community is in Marylands Washington suburbs, and one-third is in the greater-Baltimore area
Future plans for biopharm growthBaltimores growth is centered around two biotechnology park initiatives, one in East Baltimore near Johns Hopkins Hospital and the other at the University of Maryland-Baltimore Expanding the number of biotech incubator facilities (already the highest in the US) Recent research facility expansions in Montgomery County
State committment to biopharm industry growthSpecialized State industry-focus team in DBED for business development, strategic partnering, and financial investment services to outstanding companies. Long-term State investments in R&D, biomanufacturing, BSL3 facilities, incubators, and a five-center UMD Biotechnology Institute
State-level contactsMD Department of Business and Economic Development:
Regional-level contactsMdBio, Inc., 301.228.2445: C. Robert Eaton, president,