Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 8, 2004
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact:  Milken Institute, 310-570-4654

Gov. Gary Locke Praises State’s Ranking in Top Five U.S. Biotech Clusters

Gov. Gary Locke today praised a new nationwide report that ranks the greater Puget Sound area fifth in U.S. biotechnology clusters. According to the study, which was released this week by the Milken Institute, only a handful of metropolitan areas have succeeded on a scale necessary to ensure industry sustainability.

“The recognition of the greater Puget Sound area as a leading biotech region underscores the hard work of the state as well as many public and private partners,” Locke said. “With our highly educated workforce, leading research facilities and entrepreneurial spirit, Washington state is a natural concentration point for a variety of cutting edge science industries.”

Overall, institute researchers used 44 different measurements, from the biotech venture-capital funding to the number of biotech scientists working in the region, to compare regions with San Diego, the top biotech cluster overall. The study is the most comprehensive measurement of regional biotech centers ever conducted.

Juli Wilkerson, director of the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED), is in San Francisco this week attending BIO, the annual gathering of biotech leaders. She said the biotech industry’s interest in Washington state is higher than ever.

“In addition to the Puget Sound area, the Tri-Cities, Spokane, and Vancouver have developed significant science-based economies. There are many other pockets of technology innovation occurring throughout Washington as well,” Wilkerson said.

For more information about the report, visit www.milkeninstitute.org.

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