Report - Life sciences could boost economy

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Investing in the life sciences could boost the state's economy by $1 billion and its work force by 20,000 over the next 10 years, according to a study released Tuesday.

Legislative leaders and Gov. Bob Holden all said they want to invest in life sciences but are unsure whether the state can do so with a nearly $1 billion shortfall projected for the next budget.

The report says Missouri's universities and research centers put the state in good position to become a national leader in life-science research. It cites Missouri's advantages in areas such as health care, agriculture and environmental science. The state already has more than 41,000 employees in the field of life sciences.

The strategy outlined in the report has three main ideas: building research capacity in universities and other institutions, stimulating economic development through partnerships between universities and businesses, and developing a skilled work force that can meet the needs of the life-sciences companies.

Not in position

"The life sciences have the greatest potential to improve the health of our economy and build prosperity for our families," Holden said. But "our state is not in a position right now to face significant new expenditures."

Still, Holden said many of the concepts could be implemented without new money.

"Some can be implemented by readjusting priorities, by finding efficiencies, by taking new approaches on how we do business," Holden said. "We've got to be willing to change."

Holden's remarks were echoed by the leading state lawmakers.

House Speaker Catherine Hanaway, R-Warson Woods, echoed Holden's support.

"There is great bipartisan agreement on the issue that life sciences must be a priority, and it is an important element on the roadmap to our future," Hanaway said. "When it comes to life sciences, there is no urban-rural divide. What else can we say that about right now in our state?"

Hanaway and Holden both said they want to see more public-private partnerships so that the entire financial burden is not on the state.

"This is a multiyear strategy that will require a collaborative effort between the public and the private sectors," Holden said.

Missouri has potential to be a leader in life sciences because of its strong base in research and universities. Various campuses of the University of Missouri system as well as Washington University in St. Louis make the state better able to conduct research, the report said.

The new president of the University of Missouri system, Elson Floyd, said he is proud of the university's research abilities and wants to see more progress.

"It is imperative that we seize this opportunity in bold and creative ways," Floyd said. "It really is important for the University of Missouri to be a major player, to continue to work for scholarship with a world-class group of faculty members."

New science buildings are either scheduled or under construction for University of Missouri campuses in Columbia and Kansas City. Holden said he was committed to funding those buildings but would not say when the money would be released.

The two-year study conducted by the Ohio-based Battelle Memorial Institute was commissioned by the state, as well as the Ewing Marion Kauffmann Foundation of Kansas City and the Danforth Foundation of St. Louis.

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On the Net:

Batelle: http://www.battelle.org

Holden: http://www.gov.state.mo.us