Bipartisan group touts Virginia's biotechnology sector
Two Republicans and two Democrats agreed on something Thursday: the need to spread the gospel about the state’s biotechnology industry.
The four state and federal lawmakers joined biotech industry leaders and advocates at the Boar’s Head Inn for a daylong conference and networking event organized by Virginia Bio, a statewide nonprofit trade association, in honor of the group’s 20th anniversary.
“I represent 727,000 people,” Rep. Robert Hurt, R-5th, said following an afternoon workshop. “And it occurred to me as I was sitting there that … unless you have a reason to know about a particular [biotech] company, most people don’t know what’s going on.”
The Charlottesville area is home to about 15 percent of the state's 300 biotechnology and medical device firms, and the industry supports tens of thousands of direct and indirect jobs, according to Virginia Bio.
Anchored by the University of Virginia’s “intellectual firepower,” Central Virginia has emerged as “a real hub for biotech work,” said Del. David J. Toscano, D-Charlottesville. But the industry still is largely unknown, he and other lawmakers said.
“I think events like this are really critically helpful,” Toscano said. “People get stuck in their silos. They’re working hard to make a living, and they’re working hard to push their company, and they aren’t necessarily in touch with all the other innovations that are happening so quickly.”
Lawmakers themselves might be among those in the dark about biotech's potential, said Del. Steve Landes, R-Weyers Cave.
“I think for some of us, the question is do enough [legislators] know or really understand that life sciences and biotechnology can be a real niche for Virginia in economic growth?” Landes said.
“There’s a few places in the United States that are leaders — California and North Carolina have been somewhat competitive in trying to have life sciences and biotech as an economic driver — and Virginia wants to be in there with those states in really being … seen as a good place to do business for biotech companies."
As recently as 10 years ago, said Democratic Sen. Timothy M. Kaine, Virginia was better known for its information technology and communications industries.
“Biotechnology is such a growing field and we have so many wonderful research institutions that it’s just good to see the progress this industry has made,” the junior senator and former governor said.
“I think maybe the public story hasn’t caught up with the reality. And that’s one of the things that those of us in public life can do is tell the story and shine the spotlight on some of the innovators.”
An estimated 500 people attended the daylong conference, according to Virginia Bio CEO Jeff Gallagher. The day concluded with a gala anniversary celebration.
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