INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Indiana Secretary of Commerce Mitch Roob and BioCrossroads Chief Executive David Johnson will join Indiana's top life sciences executives and academics next week in Atlanta to recruit new high-tech companies to Indiana and showcase the state's strengths in biotech discovery, development and delivery.
The trip is part of the state's business recruiting efforts at the world's largest biotechnology trade show, BIO International Convention 2009, a show that is expected to host more than 20,000 biotechnology leaders from 60 countries around the globe.
"Indiana's capabilities in life science research, pharmaceutical manufacturing and medical equipment production have made us a magnet for some of the industry's most storied companies," said Roob. "We are looking forward to creating even more opportunities for Hoosiers in the thriving field of life sciences."
In addition to showcasing the state's life sciences industry and top-rated economic competitiveness in a 1,000-square-foot pavilion at the convention, Roob and Johnson will encourage company executives from a number of firms to locate high-tech businesses here.
"Indiana continues to be a place where life science companies grow and prosper and we are pleased to put the state's strengths on display before a global audience," said Johnson.
Representatives from Indiana companies including Dow AgroSciences, Cook Pharmica, Sentry Logistic Solutions and Baxter International Inc., among others will be exhibiters at the Atlanta trade show. Top researchers from Purdue University, Indiana University and the University of Notre Dame are also expected to join the Indiana delegation at BIO.
Fueled by announcements by companies such as Covance Laboratories, AIT Laboratories, Schwarz Pharma Manufacturing and TriMedx, more than a dozen life sciences companies announced plans to expand or locate in Indiana in 2008. Collectively 60 companies have committed to create more than 9,500 new jobs and invest more than $1.1 billion in their Indiana operations since Governor Mitch Daniels created the IEDC in 2005.
According to a recent study conducted by the Indiana Business Research Center of Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, Indiana ranked second nationally in the share of total workforce engaged in pharmaceutical manufacturing and third overall in productivity output per pharmaceutical worker. The study also revealed the average wage of a typical life science job was $82,000 in 2007.
