Florida's burgeoning life sciences

As part of a comprehensive statewide strategy to cultivate Florida's burgeoning life sciences cluster, Governor Jeb Bush and Enterprise Florida (EFI) led a business development mission to BIO 2004.

EFI sponsored a pavilion at the event, providing Florida companies, research universities, communities and life sciences organisations the opportunity to showcase the state's life sciences resources. EFI also hosted receptions for key life sciences decision makers as well as a venture capital briefing to discuss the growing opportunities for life sciences investment in the state.

'Florida's participation in BIO 2004 came at a time when the development of Scripps Florida has piqued the interest of life sciences professionals and investors, setting the stage for a burst of growth in the state's biotechnology cluster,' said Governor Jeb Bush.

'The event provided an ideal venue for Florida to establish relationships that can lead to business opportunities and higher-wage job growth within the life sciences cluster, ultimately contributing to our efforts to further diversify the state's economy,' said EFI President and CEO Darrell Kelley.

The 14 Florida organisations and communities represented in EFI's Florida pavilion included BioFlorida, Broward Alliance Partnership for Economic Growth, Florida High Tech Corridor, Florida's Research Universities (including Florida Atlantic University, Florida State University, University of Central Florida, University of Florida, University of Miami and University of South Florida), Jacksonville - Northeast Florida, Miami-Dade Beacon Council, Nabi Biopharmaceuticals, Palm Beach County, Florida, and Southwest Florida.

In addition to establishing a significant Florida presence at the conference, EFI's targeted marketing strategy for growing the life sciences cluster has included print and online advertising, direct mail and email marketing, venture capital briefings, and a Web seminar.