Biobreakfast Series

The Delaware Life Science Initiative

The Delaware Life Science Initiative is a partnership involving the State's academic institutions and the public and private sectors, to encourage the growth of a productive network of life science research, education and economic development in Delaware.

The Initiative got underway in the mid-nineties as the University of Delaware began to strengthen life science research and education. In 1998, with financial support from the University of Delaware (UD), the Delaware General Assembly, the DuPont Company, AstraZeneca Plc. and Hercules Inc., the Delaware Biotechnology Institute (DBI) was conceived. Its function was to provide leadership in expanding life sciences in Delaware and to act as the hub of a statewide life science infrastructure and information source on the growing field of life sciences. DBI was dedicated in April 2001.

The Institute, in conjunction with the Delaware Economic Development Office (DEDO), seeks to create an environment that promotes the growth of existing business and the creation of new businesses in life sciences. Additional details are listed in the DEDO pdf file entitled "Discover Delaware's Bioscience."

Delaware Technology Park

Life science business development and growth are critical. Located adjacent to the University of Delaware, The Delaware Technology Park (DTP) in Newark plays a key role in the Life Science Initiative. DTP is home to the Delaware Biotechnology Institute and a group of life science and IT companies, and serves as a bridge between the academic community and the business incubation community. At DTP, a nationally recognized economic development cluster has developed, which has resulted in the creation of over two thousand new, high quality jobs, and the presence of such companies as:

• DuPont Agricultural Biotechnology
• Fraunhofer Center for Molecular Biotechnology
• Quantum Leap Innovations
• Quest Pharmaceuticals

One of Delaware's great strengths is our ability to forge productive alliances among our State government, our universities and the private sector to achieve our goals, and it is this strength that we take into the twenty-first century, that assures innovative science, education and job creation.

Delaware BioScience Association

The Delaware BioScience Association, headquartered in the Delaware Technology Park, is a non-profit trade association dedicated to promoting and expanding Delaware’s bioscience industry by

• Establishing a unified voice for the bioscience community in order to accelerate the growth of human, animal, plant, and industrial bioscience.
• Capitalizing on the collaborative dynamic to benefit all Delaware Bio members, by offering cost saving programs, creating meaningful networking opportunities, helping educate and attract a qualified workforce, creating targeted introductions, communicating information vital to the growth of the bioscience industry, and advocating on behalf of the industry in support of public policies that advance bioscience in the State.
• Supporting initiatives that help attract bioscience talent and enterprises to the State, as well as support their retention and growth.
• Developing and implementing communications programs that build local, regional, national, and international recognition of and support for Delaware’s vibrant bioscience industry