If you’re in the biotech industry and wondering what state is first in class for medical device and pharmaceuticals manufacturing, as well as research and development (R&D) in this industry, the answer doesn’t lie in the west or the northeast. You’ll find the leadership and expertise in Florida.

In fact, the state retains more than 325 biotechnology companies and R&D institutes that are creating some of the most exciting advancements in innovation and discovery, particularly through patents and clinical trials. Florida’s high-tech center rivals the best in the country, and the research of these scientists is inspiring.

Companies such as: BioFlorida, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, the University of South Florida Research & Innovation, NSU Cell Therapy Institute, High-Tech Corridor, The Max Planck Institute, Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, and Scripps Florida are working in the industry across the state.

Without Florida’s universities the state’s biotechnology industry wouldn’t be the force it is today. The University of Florida, University of South Florida, and University of Central Florida are all part of the High-Tech Corridor. They receive more than $230,000,000 annually in research funding from the National Institutions of Health.

Mark S. Long, Director of University of Florida’s Sid Martin Biotech Institute, -; which serves as a biotech start-up company by providing legal advice, management and mentoring. He says that Florida has a large research enterprise, making it attractive for biotech businesses.

“There are many factors that make Florida attractive,”Long is the best. “The weather, no state income tax and the commitment to education.”

He also said that employees are the key to every company’s success.

The company’s workforce is the most important factor in its success. According to Enterprise Florida, more than 27,000 Floridians are employed in Florida’s biotechnology and pharmaceutical manufacturing and medical device manufacturing sectors. The universities are also among the top producers of STEM graduates.

“Can I get the people I need to do this?”Longer questions. “The answer is yes. There is a commitment here to education.”

Florida’s strong research universities are the backbone of Florida’s biotechnology sector. Between 2012 and 2015, nearly 5,000 bioscience-related patents were issued and more than $1 billion in R&D was conducted. This has led to solid job growth as more biotech companies have moved to Florida to take advantage of the advances in medical innovation.

Florida’s life sciences sector continues to make a positive impact on the well-being of people around the globe. Florida has attracted renowned scientists and developed expertise in key areas such as immuno-oncology and ophthalmology, cell therapies and regenerative medicine and marine biotechnology.

“Across Florida, we are seeing multiple drivers of growth,” says Nancy Bryan, President & CEO of BioFlorida, the voice of Florida’s life sciences industry.

“Companies are choosing Florida to relocate, existing companies are expanding, universities and institutes are laying the framework for spinouts, and new and established incubators and accelerators are creating the right climate for growth.”

Visit Florida Biotech Opportunities for more information enterpriseflorida.com.