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Prosperity Partnership > Cluster Initiatives > Life Sciences
Life Sciences Cluster
This cluster includes a number of industry sectors. The primary components of this cluster include health, laboratory, and instrument-related manufacturing, laboratories, and the related wholesalers for these products. This cluster exceeds the average U.S. employment concentration ratio by 30 percent, and is spread throughout the region.
2010 Action Items
What's New: Global Health Nexus Makes Public Debut
Global Health Nexus, Seattle - an initiative of the Washington Global Health Alliance in partnership with the Prosperity Partnership and the Washington Biotechnology and Biomedical Association that will make Seattle and Washington state known around the world as the nexus for the advancement of global health discovery, development, and delivery - recently made its public debut with the launch of its website and the commencement of activities.
Going forward, the Nexus and its many partners in the research, business, government, NGO, philanthropy, and faith and service communities will work to build public-private collaboration that results in new global health partnerships, investment, and recruitment in our region, as well as to educate and engage the public in global health issues. The effort will build to a major 2012 celebration of Seattle's leadership in global health held in conjunction with 50th Anniversary of the Seattle World's Fair.
Life Sciences Impact Study Released
The life sciences industry forms an important and growing segment of
Washington's economic base - bringing in money from out of state, creating and sustaining jobs, and improving healthcare outcomes. The Washington Life Sciences Economic Impact Study, prepared by the Washington Research Council, conservatively estimates that the various segments of the state's life sciences industry directly employ over 22,000 people, and support an additional 55,000 indirect and induced jobs - on par with the state's computer and electronics products manufacturing industries.
We Work For Health
We Work For Health is a grassroots initiative that unites health consumers, biopharmaceutical company employees, vendors, suppliers and other business, academic and community partners to demonstrate how these diverse groups are vital to the socioeconomic climate and provide shared benefits and a better quality of life to all. Specifically, the partnership includes local chambers of commerce, universities and research centers, labor, businesses, patient advocacy organizations, provider groups and biopharmaceutical research companies that work together to improve America’s health care system and strengthen our economy. The co-chairs of the Washington state effort are Bob Drewel (Puget Sound Regional Council), Dr. Elson Floyd (Washington State University), Chris Rivera (Washington Biotechnology and Biomedical Association), Rogers Weed (Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development), Dr. Lee Huntsman (Life Sciences Discovery Fund). More information can be found at www.weworkforhealth.org/state/washington.
Cluster Strategy Development Background
In 2005, to target its work in supporting the life sciences cluster, the Prosperity Partnership formed a Life Sciences Cluster Strategy Development Working Group tasked with identifying specific action initiatives to be implemented by 2010. A special thanks goes to the co-chairs of that working group:
Karen Hedine, President & CEO
Micronics Inc.
www.micronics.net
Lee Huntsman, President Emeritus
University of Washington
www.washington.edu
The full Life Sciences industry cluster strategy can be found starting on page 44 of the Prosperity Partnership's Regional Economic Strategy.
Contact
For more information, contact Sherry Ambrose, 206-971-3051.
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