Contact:
Debbie Lilly
(919) 840-7372 ext. 13
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 9, 2003
Life sciences leaders examine world-class manufacturing
Issues at inaugural GeneSpace event
Research Triangle Region, N.C. - Regional biotechnology industry experts convened Dec. 8 to examine how to create world-class research and manufacturing facilities to support the growth of the region's burgeoning life sciences industry.
Nearly 100 industry executives, vendors and service providers participated in the inaugural GeneSpace 2003, a regional forum to give life science companies and their construction partners the chance to examine the myriad issues involved in building quality biomanufacturing facilities. The event's success prompted organizers to announce that a second annual GeneSpace would be scheduled in September 2004 to continue the dialog.
Keynote speaker Fred Day reminded GeneSpace participants of the vast potential biotechnology manufacturing holds for the region's economy and the competitive challenges the region faces as it builds its life sciences cluster.
"There are more than 100 life sciences products currently on the market that are produced in North Carolina," said Day, president and CEO of Progress Energy Carolinas Inc. "There are more than 200 life sciences companies with operations in North Carolina. And your 17,000 employees are currently researching an additional 50 products that include treatments for cancer, asthma, Parkinson's Disease and cystic fibrosis."
Collaboration among high-quality reliable vendors, suppliers and partners is key to the region's competitive future, Day said. Progress Energy is among those focused on ensuring the industry gets the quality service and support it needs to grow.
"A voltage anomaly might cost a biotechnology company millions of dollars in lost production," Day said. "That is why we offer utility-grade, enhanced levels of service (such as dual feeds and redundant services, on-site generation and uninterruptible power sources) tailored to meet the energy needs of industrial and commercial electricity customers."
GeneSpace 2003 is part of an overall effort to create jobs in the 13-county Research Triangle Region by capitalizing on the region's world leadership in biotechnology R&D.
"Biotechnology facilities are complex, heavily regulated and costly," said Debbie Lilly, vice president of client services for Research Triangle Regional Partnership (RTRP), which hosted the forum. "Organizations involved in their construction must manage a diverse set of requirements for physical and system needs, biosafety, permitting, zoning and flexible use." The region expects to see a significant increase in construction and expansion of biomanufacturing facilities in coming years.
"Our goal is to get everyone involved in the construction process - commercial developers, service providers, utilities and other vendors - to understand the full range of issues so they'll be better prepared to build and operate these facilities," said Lilly.
RTRP is a public/private partnership that promotes economic development for the 13-county region of North Carolina comprising Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Moore, Orange, Person, Vance, Wake and Warren counties.
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