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| Flinn Foundation 2001 Annual Report |
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| New Directions Defined | Page 3 of 4 | < Previous | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Next > |
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ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS
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 By all accounts, a flourishing future in the biosciences hinges on the presence of a world-class medical research base. This is an essential component of the critical mass that is needed to compete with other states that have well-developed programs and major funding commitments. The passage
of the Proposition 301 educational initiative two years ago added a measure of
stability to Arizona's university research funding base. But repeated cuts to
university budgets have limited their ability to secure state-of-the-art
instrumentation and laboratories, and to recruit and retain top scientific faculty in
complementary programs. These are prerequisites for competing for national
research funding.
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Nationally, the biosciences comprise an average of 57 percent of total university research. In Arizona, the figure is just 44 percent ($229 million in 2000). From 1996 to 2000, the state's total biosciences research funding grew 27 percent, compared to a 36 percent gain for the nation. Thus, Arizona is losing its market share of the national research budget and will need to gain lost ground to become competitive.
Simply meeting the national average can have a profound impact. To illustrate: If in 2000 Arizona had achieved the national average of bioscience funding, an additional $150 million would have flowed into the state. This translates to hundreds of new jobs, greater tax revenue, and an expanding university research base. It would also move Arizona toward the top tier of bioscience states.
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Numerous studies have cited the multiplier effect of basic research at universities
and research institutes. A Georgia study confirmed that its investment of $300
million to recruit and outfit 27 eminent research scholars generated an additional
$900 million in research funding to the state, as well as economic gains of 75 new
startup companies employing 2,000 workers and attracting $500 million in capital
investments. Other studies have tied research investments to increased activity in startup ventures.
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Capturing a larger piece of the competitive biosciences market can be accomplished only by:
(1) Sustaining Arizona's research base. Arizona must build its future research base around selective target areas and invest sufficient resources to attract, retain, and develop research talent in modern laboratory facilities. (2) Building a critical mass of bioscience firms. Talent will be attracted to and remain in a state with intellectual fervor, cutting-edge research, and collaboration among university faculty and industry. The growth and expansion of existing firms and the selective recruitment of new firms will complement the investment in the university research base.
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