Life Science
Quick Stats
- The Seattle region is among the top-five largest life science clusters in the country
- King County is home to 160 life sciences companies that employ more than 22,000 people
- 2008 net sales of medical devices from Washington State were recorded at $2.5 billion
The Seattle region is a world-class center for Life Sciences. With a nationally ranked university medical research institution in UW Medicine and renowned organizations like the Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, life sciences are a part of the local fabric. This expanding cluster has a wealth of talented people and incredible institutions while being unique in its collaborative nature and ability to attract and keep world-class talent.
A home for life sciences.
The Puget Sound region boasts one of the most significant concentrations of life sciences companies in the United States. In King County, there are 160 life sciences companies that employ more than 22,000 people. Many of these companies grew out of cutting-edge research conducted at the numerous public and private research institutions based in the region.
Support from the local community.
Efforts are underway across the region and state to strengthen the development of this critical sector. Examples include the redevelopment of Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood as a center for biotechnology and research, and the Life Sciences Discovery Fund’s annual Grant Competitions. In 2009, the Fund announced the addition of a new commercialized grant program designed to promote the commercialization of promising new technologies.
the EDC plays a key role in the promotion of the life science industry, with leadership and staff filling important roles as board members with the Washington Biomedical and Biotechnical Association and the Innovation Partnership Zone for Biomedical Manufacturing, a non-profit corporation located in Bothell, Washington.