
About The Region
The Southeastern Pennsylvania region is a leader in life sciences innovation.
Our region receives numerous life sciences recognitions such as:
- The Milken Institute ranks Greater Philadelphia 2nd in the nation overall in its 'Life Sciences Composite Index," (2009 study);1
- The Milken Institute's research also places Greater Philadelphia 1st in the nation in its "Life Sciences Human Capital Index," (ahead of Boston, Greater New York, Greater Raleigh and Greater San Francisco).
- Greater Philadelphia is also ranked 3rd nationally in "Life Sciences Risk Capital and Entrepreneurship" by the 2009 Milken Institute study (scoring in the study's top percentile and just behind Boston and Greater San Francisco).
- The Battelle Institute's research places Greater Philadelphia 2nd in the nation in "States with Large and Specialized Employment in the Research, Testing and Medical Laboratories Sub-sector."2
- Four general medical schools, a school of osteopathic medicine, two schools of dentistry, two schools of pharmacy, a school of veterinary medicine, a school of podiatry, and a school of optometry;
- The nation's finest concentration of leading medical/bioscience research institutions, including the University of Pennsylvania (#2 in the nation for NIH funding), Thomas Jefferson University, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Temple University Hospital, The Wistar Institute, the Fox Chase Cancer Center, Hahnemann Hospital / Drexel University, which collectively have received more than $2.5 billion in National Institutes of Health to fund their research in 2005. In all, more than 20 universities and non-profit institutions were engaged in bioscience related research;
- An unparalleled business hub within an hour’s train ride to the world’s financial center in New York City and two hours to the U.S. regulatory center in Washington, DC;
- A center for life sciences innovation within the heart of the nation’s established bio-pharma corridor – eight of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies are within a 50-mile radius of Philadelphia – providing access to a deep talent pool and partners for our region’s emerging life sciences companies companies;
- The critical business support systems required for a thriving biotechnology industry, namely research parks, biotechnology incubators, business schools, contract research organizations, diagnostics and testing companies, and venture capital funds and a health dose of public commitment;
- High quality of life for families and a competitive cost of doing business, with stable real estate rates to help companies plan for growth.
The region also has a long and distinguished list of first accomplishments in the fields of medicine, medical education, research and discovery, and life saving medical procedures including:
- America’s first hospital, Pennsylvania Hospital, founded in 1751
- The first hospital for children, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, founded in 1855
- The first independent medical research facility in the United States, The Wistar Institute, founded in 1892
- The first Medical school and teaching hospital, the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, founded in 1874
- The first cancer hospital, the Hospital of the Fox Chase Cancer Center, founded in 1904
- The first college of pharmacy, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, founded in 1921
- The first private psychiatric hospital, Friends Hospital, founded in 1813
(1) The Milken Institute: "The Greater Philadelphia Life Sciences Cluster; An Economic and Comparative Assessment" - May 2009
(2) Battelle: "Technology, talent and capital: State Bioscience Initiatives 2008" - June 2008