Legislation to hold hearings on the availability of lab spaces and incubation facilities in Philadelphia for startup biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. Authorizing Council’s Committee on Global Opportunities and the Creative/Innovative Economy and the Committee on Education to hold hearings on the availability of lab spaces and incubation facilities in the City of Philadelphia that are accessible to biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and related start-up companies.
RESOLUTION
Authorizing Council’s Committee on Global Opportunities and the Creative/Innovative
Economy and the Committee on Education to hold hearings on the availability of lab
spaces and incubation facilities in the City of Philadelphia that are accessible to
biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and related start-up companies.
WHEREAS, According to the Greater Philadelphia Life Sciences Report released in
2017, the life sciences industry of Greater Philadelphia Region generated $24.6 Billion in
real output (in constant 2010 dollars) supporting 48,900 direct jobs since 2010. The study
finds that: “The Greater Philadelphia Region (GPR) is positioned to lead the next stage of
disruption within the spectrum of Life Sciences disciplines, thanks to its world-renowned
research institutions, top biomedical programs, and a healthy ecosystem of small and
large enterprises and investment activity”; and
WHEREAS, Biotechnology applies knowledge and methods from life sciences to
develop breakthrough technologies and products for improving health and the
environment. The Philadelphia region in recent years has emerged as a viable
biotechnology hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. In fact, in 2015, the industry
trade publication Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News (GEN) ranked the 11-
county Greater Philadelphia Region the 6th-best biotechnology market in the nation; and
WHEREAS, Pharmaceutical research has a chemical basis for drug discovery and
development; and
WHEREAS, One of the key ways to support biotechnology and pharmaceutical start-up
companies in Philadelphia is to make sure that they can gain access to affordable wet lab
spaces; and
WHEREAS, There is a growing number of biotechnology and pharmaceutical start-up
companies in Philadelphia founded by scientists and entrepreneurs from local colleges
and universities. In order for them to expand and create economic opportunities, it is
critical that the City of Philadelphia does not face a shortage of affordable lab spaces to
accommodate early stage research and expanding start-up companies; and
WHEREAS, Biotechnology and pharmaceutical start-up companies are drivers of
innovation and they foster the region’s competitive advantages in life sciences,
biotechnology, and pharmaceutical sectors; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE PHILADELPHIA CITY COUNCIL, Hereby authorizes
Council’s Committee on Global Opportunities and the Creative/Innovative Economy and
the Committee on Education to hold hearings on the availability of lab spaces and
incubation facilities in the City of Philadelphia that are accessible to biotechnology,
pharmaceutical, and related start-up companies.