Opinion: Focus debut delves into emerging Ozarks industry

Sometimes, business calls for trying something new, whether it's in response to economic doldrums, a changing customer base or a developing business sector just begging for attention.

Such was the case for this issue of the Springfield Business Journal, which provides an in-depth look at life sciences and biotechnology, an industry sector full of companies and individuals who are in the trenches developing new ideas, procedures and devices in an emerging - and increasingly important - industry in southwest Missouri.

Big opportunity

When it comes to planning Springfield Business Journal's annual editorial calendar, we know going into the process that some tried-and-true sectors will make the list, including health care, education, and banking and finance. No-brainers, right? But every now and then, we like to explore new coverage opportunities. Our planning for 2009 led us into the debut of In Focus: Life Sciences & Biotechnology.

We've followed the development of Jordan Valley Innovation Center from its inception, and the research going on there tells us that the Ozarks is right on the cusp of what could be big business, from nanotechnology to biomaterials. Reporter Matt Wagner's cover story lifts the veil on the research and development going on inside JVIC, but as you'll read in these pages - and as was confirmed by our expert sources - the multiple components of life sciences and biotechnology are often interlaced.

Because life sciences and biotechnology is a new focus, I enlisted some expert advice to help shape our plan of attack.

My first call was to Kelly Gillespie, executive director of the Missouri Biotechnology Association. Gillespie described the group as something akin to a statewide chamber of commerce whose member companies are in the life sciences and biotechnology sectors.

I learned of MOBIO in May, when the group, along with representatives of the Missouri Department of Economic Development and the Missouri Department of Agriculture, announced their representation of the Show-Me State at the International BIO Conference in Atlanta.

In that announcement, DED Director Linda Martinez cited some 2,000 life-sciences-related firms in Missouri, as well as an abundance of research groups, all positioning the state to embrace emerging science and the expected next-generation jobs. Clearly, this topic deserved some attention.

Gillespie's definition of life sciences and biotechnology touched on everything from pharmaceutical development to agricultural advances, and he noted that even companies such as Springfield-based American Dehydrated Foods Inc., fall under the biotechnology banner, because they're working with and exploring nutritional components. And it was Gillespie who clued us into the fact that Springfield's stainless steel manufacturers play a key role in life sciences and biotechnology because they serve the pharmaceutical industry.

Another call went out to Jim Baker, vice president of research and economic development at Missouri State University (and subject of A Conversation With ... on page 12), who concurred with Gillespie that, in many ways, life sciences and biotechnology are synonymous with health care, a leading employment sector in the Ozarks. A 2006 study presented to the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce by St. Louis research firm Development Strategies Inc. showed that health care has a $4.5 billion annual impact on the Springfield metropolitan area, and higher education contributes nearly $900 million a year. Given life science's prevalence in health care, much of the ongoing research dovetails these two leading industries.

MSU's Baker notes, too, that we're well-positioned to see significant developments in medical devices. It's possible that the ideas that will become these devices already are germinating, and it will be exciting to see the end results, someday.

Forging ahead

There's money out there to fund life sciences and biotechnology research.

For example, Congressman Roy Blunt has helped secure millions of dollars for the development of JVIC, and his name now graces the downtown center. But southwest Missouri's task now is to capture more of those funds.

Earlier this month, U.S. Sen. Kit Bond announced that more than $9 million has been secured for Missouri agricultural life sciences projects in the agricultural spending bill passed Aug. 4 by the Senate. Unfortunately, none of those funds are earmarked for southwest Missouri.

This region is still carving its niche in terms of statewide competition for life sciences and biotech research funding, and Baker said it's important to note that research hotbeds in other regions have been working at it longer than we have, so we've got time to build that foundation.

This issue touches on just a few areas of life sciences, but we've learned, too, that this is just the tip of the iceberg. While we're putting the finishing touches on the 2010 editorial calendar, I know that Life Sciences & Biotechnology will be part of that mix. I have no doubt that by the time this issue returns in 2010, there will be amazing new technologies and developments to report. I don't know about you, but I can't wait to see what Ozarks' ingenuity comes up with next.

Maria Hoover is features editor of Springfield Business Journal.