When Alabama Gov. Bob Riley announced earlier this summer that the state was investing $50 million as part of a $130 million public-private partnership that will create a biotechnology research institute in Huntsville, it represented just one more example of how state governments are investing heavily in an effort to foster knowledge-based industries.

The Hudson-Alpha Institute for Biotechnology (HAIB) will be located in the Cummings Research Park in Huntsville, as part of a newly created 120-acre biotechnology center to be named the CRP Biotech Campus.

“With a $50 million commitment from the state, we’re gaining $80 million in private investments that together will help create 900 direct jobs,” Riley said. “We are actively and aggressively positioning Alabama to become a worldwide leader in biotech research and one of the premier places in the nation for these high paying jobs that can’t be exported overseas. The door to greater economic opportunity is opening wider than ever before throughout our state.”

Riley noted that successful biotech research requires access to cutting-edge technology, venture capital, technology parks, a strong public-private partnership and a well-educated work force.

“The Huntsville area has all those elements,” he said. “However, this project is not just a Huntsville project. It is a boost for all of Alabama, and we will work to ensure that our long-term plans to foster the growth of high-tech and biotech research across the state continue.”

HAIB’s main building, which should be completed in late 2007, will house HAIB and several associated biotech companies.

“We initially anticipate between 500 and 600 jobs in the 2007 to 2008 period, and by the end of 2008 having an estimated combined annual payroll of $37 million,” said Jim Hudson, president of HAIB.

Within 10 years, he estimated employment on the CRP Biotech Campus, including HAIB and associated biotech companies, will be nearly 1,600 workers, with a combined annual payroll of more than $83 million.

The threefold mission of HAIB is to foster biotechnology-based research into why disease occurs and cost effective ways to treat it, to lead to commercializing biotechnology discoveries to stimulate economic development in Alabama, and to inspire Alabama’s youth to seek careers in science by offering them access to cutting-edge biotechnology courses through distance learning.

In September, Epitomics Inc. announced it had entered into a letter of intent with HAIB to engage in a multi-phase collaboration where it will jointly develop and market rabbit monoclonal antibodies and a proteomics database for public distribution.

Guo-Liang Yu, CEO of Epitomics, said he is enthusiastic about the partnership.

“The collaboration with HAIB provides a new technology platform with a combined force to allow Epitomics to serve the industry needs better,” Yu said.

Epitomics is an emerging biotechnology company that develops and commercializes a proprietary rabbit monoclonal antibody technology for the research community, as well as for diagnostic and therapeutic companies through licensing, services and sales of its products. The company is based in Burlingame, Calif., and it has a wholly owned subsidiary in Hangzhou, China.

Funding Secured For New Biotech Wet Lab

Young, growing biotechnology companies in Greater Edmonton and Alberta will soon have a new 72,000 square foot wet lab facility at Edmonton Research Park to help them unleash their innovative and commercial potential.

Western Economic Diversification Canada and Alberta Innovation and Science will each provide $2.5 million in grants to help construct the $14.2 million project, spearheaded by Edmonton Economic Development Corp. (EEDC). The city of Edmonton will provide $1.2 million in land and in-kind services (through EEDC) and provide an $8 million loan for the project.

When completed in 2007, the facility, to be named the Biotechnology Business Development Centre (BBDC), will house 10,000 square feet of low-cost shared lab space for Alberta companies, particularly those in Greater Edmonton. About 55,000 square feet of cost-effective, customizable office and lab space will be available to tenants.

Eight studies during the past 14 years have identified the need for wet lab space to keep young biotechnology companies in Greater Edmonton as they grow, improving the chance they will remain in the region and build their own facilities once they are large enough.

EEDC will manage the facility and is currently pre-leasing space to interested biotechnology companies.

The BBDC will be built on land adjacent to the Alberta Research Council, pending the approval of the expansion of the park’s land base. Construction is slated to begin next year.

Princeton BioMeditech to Build Facility in Virginia

Princeton BioMeditech Corp. will invest $7 million to build a manufacturing facility in Charlottesville, Va. The company has entered into an exclusive marketing and manufacturing agreement with ContraVac Inc., a privately held biotechnology company.

The new facility will provide manufacturing capability to ContraVac for its newly developed products to test male fertility. The Albemarle County facility will also provide research and development efforts, manufacturing, and distribution for the company’s current and future products.

Virginia successfully competed against New Jersey and Pennsylvania for the project.

Princeton BioMeditech has developed and introduced an extensive menu of more than 70 different simple, rapid diagnostic tests for fertility, infectious diseases, drugs of abuse, tumor markers, cardiac markers, veterinary diagnostics and environmental applications.

“We are excited to select Virginia for our newest R&D and manufacturing facility,” said Jemo Kang, president of Princeton BioMeditech. “The University of Virginia and the Charlottesville area offer strong resources, including many of the brightest minds available, which will help to make our newest site successful. We weighed many economic, community and resource factors in our final decision.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Albemarle County, the University of Virginia, the University of Virginia Foundation and the Thomas Jefferson Partnership to secure the project. Albemarle County will receive a $100,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist with the project.

The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide training assistance through its Workforce Services Program.