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Keith Oing Project Manager . Business Development . Science & Research Team804-545-5735KOing@YesVirginia.org
In an increasingly competitive environment, life sciences firms worldwide face complex challenges in the development and commercialization of new health care, food production, environmental protection and biodefense products, technologies and services. Virginia is well-positioned to lead in supporting life sciences research, development and commercialization because the state offers proximity to strong research institutions, a deep knowledge-based workforce and a mature and savvy IT industry. A number of life sciences firms are finding success thanks to the supportive business environment in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Based on the definition used by Battelle for BIO, the Virginia life sciences industry measured here is composed of pharmaceutical manufacturing and medical device manufacturing; research and testing services; and certain agricultural feedstock-chemical manufacturing. Healthcare providers are not included in this definition.
In 2007, the Virginia life sciences industry is comprised of approximately 570 firms employing 15,700 at an average salary of $74,865. The Research and Testing sub sector clearly accounts for the largest share of life sciences industry employment with 48% of the jobs in 225 firms. Next is the Medical Device and Equipment Manufacturing sub sector with 22% of the jobs in 286 firms, followed by Pharmaceuticals employment at 17%, and finally, Agricultural Feedstock-Chemicals at 13%.
Virginia is a location of choice for a growing number
of pharmaceutical, medical device and biotechnology firms. Situated between
two states known for significant clusters of biotechnology companies—Maryland
and North Carolina—Virginia's young, but rapidly growing life sciences
sector is making a name for itself. In Virginia, companies find the space to
grow and the business and cost environment necessary for long-term success.
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Major Life Sciences-Related
Companies |
American Type Culture
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Wyeth Consumer Healthcare (Pfizer)
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Barr Laboratories
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Merck & Co., Inc.
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Covance Laboratories, Inc.
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Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH
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Novozymes Biologicals
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MicroAire Surgical Instruments
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Commonwealth Biotechnologies, Inc.
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PRA International
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Abbott Laboratories (Ross Products Division) |
MediaTech |
A recent survey by VaBIO finds that more than half of Virginia’s biotechnology R&D firms are focused on therapeutic product development and 14% on diagnostics. Other research concentrations include biodefense, bioinformatics and agricultural biosciences. Over 60% of life sciences firms are clustered in the Northern Virginia and Richmond regions. Growing concentrations of firms are located around UVA and Virginia Tech, two of Virginia’s major medical research universities. Over the past decade, private sector life sciences firms have announced the creation of 4,100 new jobs and $2.1 billion investment in research, development and manufacturing in Virginia.
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Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William & Mary
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Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Virginia Tech
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National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, George Mason University
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute
- SRI International’s Center for Advanced Drug Research (CADRE)
- Carilion Biomedical Institute
- Virginia BioTechnology Park
- University of Virginia
- Virginia Tech
- Virginia Commonwealth University
- Eastern Virginia Medical School
In Virginia, one in every three adults holds a bachelor’s or advanced degree. The National Science Foundation reports that 20,000 doctoral scientists and engineers are employed in Virginia, the 10th largest concentration in the nation.
There are seven Carnegie Foundation classified “doctoral high and very high activity” research universities, four academic medical centers, and a college of veterinary medicine in the Commonwealth to prepare students for life sciences careers. Annual enrollment in Virginia institutions of higher education totals over 500,000. These universities graduate significant numbers of students with the technical skills that life sciences companies need.
Selected Life Sciences and Engineering Degrees Awarded 2007-2008 |
Degrees |
Total |
| Biology/Biomedical Sciences |
2,775 |
Biochemistry & Biophysics |
183 |
Bioengineering/Biomedical Engineering |
175 |
Microbiology/Bacteriology |
37 |
Biostatistics |
42 |
| Pharmacy/Pharmacology |
309 |
Chemistry |
454 |
Chemical Engineering |
121 |
Engineering Technicians |
320 |
Health Profession & Related Clinical Sciences |
6,185 |
Total |
11,600 |
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