With nearly 40,000 Life Sciences establishments employing some 691,000 people, Florida's life sciences cluster continues to gain critical mass around the state (interactive map), with many biotechnology and medical device companies starting up or relocating here. The state’s life sciences businesses are thriving, thanks to Florida’s increased research capabilities, collaborative environment and pro-business climate.

From the increased funding for university biomedical research to the arrival of several esteemed research institutes, and from the growing number of state-of-the-art facilities to the growing ranks of talented scientists working there, Florida’s emergence as a life sciences hub has been swift and definitive.

Accomplished research universities: Florida universities and research centers are continually expanding the breadth and depth of their scientific investigation in the Life Sciences fields. New facilities and programs in Regenerative Health Biotechnology, Marine Biotechnology, Biological Defense, and Brain and Alzheimer’s research are only some of the recent additions to Florida’s life sciences base.

Successful private companies: From earning FDA fast track status or approval to the securing of venture financing, Florida’s life sciences companies enjoyed a variety of successes this year. From Nanotherapeutics, which was voted “Most Promising” pharmaceutical company by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, to Mako Surgical Corp, which has developed a revolutionary robotic medical device for knee-surgery, life sciences companies thrive in Florida.

Distinguished research institutes: Florida’s areas of life sciences excellence, including cancer, diabetes and heart disease, are key advantages that attracted six esteemed biomedical research outfits to the state in the last five years—Burnham Institute for Medical Research, Scripps Florida, Max Planck Institute of Bioimaging, Miami Institute for Human Genomics,Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies and the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute —to locate here.

Florida’s strengths lie in the following areas:

• Biotechnology
• Medical device manufacturing
• Pharmaceuticals
• Health care

To learn more about the Life Sciences industry in Florida, download the Life Sciences Market Brief from our Intelligence Center (free registration required).