The biosciences are already a major player in the local economy, employing more than 5,000 people in higher-paying, quality bioscience jobs. In fact, the biosciences in Flagstaff actually grew during the recession. You probably already know the major bioscience organizations in Flagstaff, such as W. L. Gore, TGen North (Translational Genomics Research Institute), Northern Arizona University, Machine Solutions, Senestech, Norchem, Prent and Flagstaff Medical Center. When we look at what industries will create jobs and prosperity for Flagstaff in the future, the biosciences certainly show promise for expansion of established companies, attracting new companies and growing and incubating new companies.
Not only does Flagstaff have established bioscience organizations that are growing, the potential to grow our own large bioscience companies from startups is being realized. For example, Pathogene, a company that is creating diagnostic and medical treatment products, was born from the research and discovery at TGen North and NAU. Other innovative startup companies in Flagstaff on an upward trajectory are Senestech, Protein Genomics and Development Engineering Services (DES).
While we have a good jump on developing new startup bioscience companies, the innovative research and discovery being conducted at NAU and TGEN are providing the ideas and technology that will be the basis for even more bioscience startups in the future.
With a solid foundation upon which to build, Flagstaff also possesses the characteristics, infrastructure and leadership that have made other cities around the country successful in the biosciences.
Flagstaff began to become much more intentionally-focused about growing the biosciences about 10 years ago when the Phoenix-based Flinn Foundation gathered civic, business and economic development leaders from Flagstaff, Phoenix and Tucson to develop a 10-year strategic plan called the “Arizona Bioscience Roadmap.”
Since then, a steering committee has worked to implement the strategic initiatives outlined in the roadmap. It focused on increasing bioscience research at the universities, creating legislation and policies to support and encourage the biosciences to flourish, developing a bioscience workforce and encouraging innovation. Progress to date can be found at http://www.flinn.org/bio-roadmap.
More recently, the Flinn Foundation provided a grant to the Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) to develop a plan that charts the course for actions to be taken in the next couple of years to accelerate the growth of biosciences in Flagstaff.
No doubt one of the reasons Flagstaff already has had success is developing the biosciences is the fact that Flagstaff is a special place with an amazing quality of life. Few towns of 70,000 people have a major university, a nationally known symphony, a medical center that rivals any major urban medical center, a large community college, robust arts and culture, an incredible natural environment and recreation opportunities, a ski resort, high performing public and charter schools, world class astronomy – the list goes on.
We are a very collaborative community and the work on building the biosciences has been a collective effort. Engaged in the development of the biosciences are the City of Flagstaff, NACET, Northern Arizona University, Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce, Coconino Community College, Coconino County Career Center, Flinn Foundation, Arizona Commerce Authority, TGEN North, Science Foundation Arizona, Flagstaff Forty and ECoNA.
Building on the base of the collaboration, assets and amenities that Flagstaff has to offer, the ECoNA Biosciences Tactical Plan identifies seven major actions to accelerate the growth of the biosciences:
– Develop critical regional infrastructure and support
– Foster industry collaboration
– Expand research, innovation and translation
– Increase private and public investment
– Create a competitive and highly trained workforce
– Drive startup incubation and acceleration
– Support industry growth – critical mass
Major projects regarding these seven steps already are underway. A recent report to the Flinn Foundation states that W. L. Gore is building new plants in Flagstaff and adding employees. At NAU, new bioscience research laboratories are under construction and a new research park is being developed. The Innovation Mesa Technology and Bioscience Accelerator Building will start construction next spring and the bioscience industry and organizations are engaged in the sector work.
In the meantime, NAU has plans to double its research and add research jobs, TGEN North has grown from five to 50 employees and continues to expand its bioscience research portfolio, and NAU is graduating more bioscience related majors than ever before. FBN
Rich Bowen is the president of ECoNA and the AVP for economic development at Northern Arizona University.
He can be reached at 928-707-7527 or at richard.bowen@econa-az.com.
ECoNA is a regional economic development organization thats goal is to create jobs and significantly increase the wealth and prosperity of Coconino County.