ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 6, 2005--The southern United States, host to the upcoming inaugural BioFusion 2005 international bio-partnering conference, is on the fast track to becoming the next hotbed for companies and research institutions looking to advance the life sciences and biotechnology industry. Several academic and research institutions as well as pharmaceutical, drug discovery and medical device companies in the South are focusing on biosciences. The region is quickly establishing itself as a powerful cluster in the life sciences arena. “Biosciences and biotechnology grow where assets are optimal to support the industry,” said William N. Hearn, Principal, Lockwood Greene Engineering. “Large pharmaceuticals, drug discovery companies and medical device innovators tend to cluster near knowledge centers such as universities or biotech corridors. With existing hubs in the North Carolina Research Triangle and Atlanta, the southern portion of the United States is emerging as a significant biosciences cluster, offering important opportunities for existing companies in well-known clusters like San Francisco, New Jersey and Maryland.”
