BioAdvance - About The Region
About BioAdvance >> About The Region

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 3rd in the nation overall in its 'Life Sciences Composite Index,"  just behind Boston and Greater San Francisco;1
  • Battelle Memorial Institute (Battelle) ranks Greater Philadelphia 2nd in the nation with "Largest Employment Levels in Drugs and Pharmaceuticals;"
  • Battelle also rates Greater Philadelphia 2nd in the nation in "States with Large and Specialized Employment in the Research, Testing and Medical Laboratories Sub-sector."2
Our region is anchored in its life sciences industry by the following centers of excellence and catalysts of innovation:
  • 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/life science research institutions, including the University of Pennsylvania, 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 consistently, collectively are national leaders in attracting National Institutes of Health and other federal research grants to fund their research over the past five years (1999-2003). Including the above named research entities, over 20 universities and non-profit institutions were engaged in life sciences 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 Southeastern Pennsylvania region is a leader in life sciences innovation.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" - June 2005

(2) Battelle: "Technology, talent and capital: State Bioscience Initiatives 2008" - June 2008