Mesa Redonda Industria, Gobierno y Academia Biotechnology in Puerto Rico

1
Mesa RedondaIndustria, Gobierno y Academia
Biotechnology in Puerto Rico

• Dr. Roberto Rodríguez-Andújar
• Bioprocess Development and Training Complex
• June 29, 2007

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Puerto Rico Biotechnology today

• Revenues of biological drugs made in PR exceeded
  20B in 2006.
• Puerto Rico is hub for some of the main biotech
  companies.
• AMGEN, JJ, ABBOTT, LILLY, BMS, BD, others
• Main agricultural biotechnology firms have
  nurseries in Puerto Rico.
• Pioneer Hi-bred, Monsanto, AgReliant, Syngenta,
  Mycogen, Bayer Cropscience, others

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Challenges

• Keep growing biological manufacturing and
  agricultural biotech on the Island.
• Stop brain drain.
• Overcome infrastructure limitations
• Avoid political changes to interfere with
  national movement toward excellence!

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Advantages

• Pharma companies moving into biological
  manufacturing are already here.
• Our weather makes PR the best location for ag-bio
  companies.
• Highly experienced and educated workforce.
• US Trade Laws
• Location. Location. Location.

5
Competition Ireland Singapore

• We can not compete on tax incentives alone.

Ernst Young LLP
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Competition Ireland Singapore

• They are investing in infrastructure.
• They are far away. They are not USA territory and
  are not part of the US Customs Border.
• We have more experience in biotechnology (Ortho,
  1988).

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Current initiatives

• Two UPR undergraduate biotechnology programs
  UPRM and UPRP.
• PRIDCO Biotechnology Fellowships
• Bioprocess Development and Training Complex
• Training
• Development
• Innovation

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What else can we do?

• Make the Island more attractive for RD
• Guaranty jobs for fellowships students to return
• Tax breaks for scientists doing research
• State matching of federal grants awarded to local
  scientists
• Support current initiatives
• UPR to further develop current biotech programs
• PRSTF to financially support current initiatives
• Press to cover and aid current efforts