Abstract
Biotech Industry Clustering and Workforce Development Policies
Track: Business GIS
Author(s): J. M. (Mike) Pogodzinski
This paper examines the role of three factors identified in the literature to account for the clustering of biotechnology firms in California and the San Francisco Bay Area: the availability of biology degree programs at institutions of higher education [Lowe (2007)], the funding of research universities [Drucker and Goldstein (2007)], and the diversity of the local economies [Quigley (1998)].
We used data from the 2002 Economic Census to identify industry clusters supplemented by more detailed data about firm characteristics obtained from a biotechnology trade association for firms in the San Francisco Bay Area. Degree information was obtained from the California Postsecondary Education Commission. Funding levels were determined by adding funding from biology programs of the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (the “Stem Cell Institute”).
We used GIS tools to identify industry clusters and to compute measures of economic diversity.
J. M. (Mike) Pogodzinski
Department of Economics (0114)
San Jose State University
1 Washington Square
San Jose , California 95192-0114
United States
Phone: 415-516-6144
E-mail: jmp@pogodzinski.net