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The Biotechnology Industry in Montgomery County

This document is a technical report published in July 2000 that analyzes the biotechnology industry in Montgomery County, Maryland. It finds that the county is home to over 180 biotechnology firms due to the presence of major research institutions and federal agencies. It also notes that the industry is growing rapidly nationally and locally, driven by recent advances in genome sequencing and bioinformatics. The report examines land use and real estate trends among biotech firms, finding clusters forming around employment centers like Shady Grove and Gaithersburg.

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17 views

The Biotechnology Industry in Montgomery County

This document is a technical report published in July 2000 that analyzes the biotechnology industry in Montgomery County, Maryland. It finds that the county is home to over 180 biotechnology firms due to the presence of major research institutions and federal agencies. It also notes that the industry is growing rapidly nationally and locally, driven by recent advances in genome sequencing and bioinformatics. The report examines land use and real estate trends among biotech firms, finding clusters forming around employment centers like Shady Grove and Gaithersburg.

Uploaded by

Planning Docs
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Biotechnology Industry in

Montgomery County:

Factors Related to the


Development of the Industry
Including Land Use Issues

Technical Report
July 2000
Second Edition, August 2000

THE MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNING COMMISSION

Research and Technology Center


Montgomery County Department of Park and Planning
8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910-3760
THE MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNING COMMISSION

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission is a bi-county agency


created by the General Assembly of Maryland in 1927. The Commission's geographic
authority covers most of Montgomery and Prince George's counties. The
Commission=s planning jurisdiction, the Maryland-Washington Regional District,
comprises 1,001 square miles; its parks jurisdiction, the Metropolitan District,
comprises 919 square miles.

The Commission has three major functions:

(1) The preparation, adoption, and, from time to time,


amendment or extension of The General Plan (On
Wedges and Corridors) for the Physical
Development of the Maryland-Washington Regional
District Within Montgomery and Prince George's
Counties.

(2) The acquisition, development, operation, and


maintenance of a public park system.

(3) In Prince George's County only, the operation of the


entire County public recreation program.

The Commission operates in each county through a Planning Board appointed by and
responsible to the county government. The Planning Boards are responsible for
preparation of all local master plans, recommendations on zoning amendments,
administration of subdivision regulations, and general administration of parks.

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission encourages the


involvement and participation of individuals with disabilities, and its facilities are
accessible. For assistance with special needs (e.g., large print materials, listening
devices, sign language interpretation, etc.), please contact the Community Relations

2
Office, 301-495-4600 or TDD 301-495-1331.

3
ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS

COUNTY COUNCIL

Michael L. Subin, President


Blair Ewing, Vice-President

Phil Andrews
Derick P. Berlage
Nancy Dacek
Howard Dennis
Isiah Leggett
Marilyn J. Praisner
Steve Silverman

COUNTY EXECUTIVE

Douglas M. Duncan

THE MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNING COMMISSION

Elizabeth M. Hewlett, Chairman


William H. Hussmann, Vice Chairman

COMMISSIONERS

Montgomery County Prince George = s County


Planning Board Planning Board

William H. Hussmann, Chairman Elizabeth M. Hewlett, Chairman


Arthur Holmes, Jr. Vice Chairman James M. Brown
Allison Bryant William M. Eley, Jr.
Wendy C. Perdue George H. Lowe, Jr.
Meredith K. Wellington

4
ABSTRACT

TITLE: The Biotechnology Industry in Montgomery County:


Factors Related to the Development of the Industry Including Land Use Issues

AUTHORS: Frederick R Peacock, Research Master Planner, Principal Author


*Joel Yesley, Volunteer Researcher, Interviews & Co-Author
Gary Goodwin, Research Coordinator, Firm Listing & The National Industry

SUBJECT: A study of the biotechnology industry in Montgomery County with an emphasis on land
use issues

DATE: July 2000, Second edition August 2000

PLANNING The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission


AGENCY: 8787 Georgia Avenue
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910-3760

NUMBER
OF PAGES: 86

ABSTRACT: An analysis of the biotechnology industry in Montgomery County, Maryland in relation


to biotechnology research institutions, the national industry, and local land use issues. It
is based, in part, on interviews of representatives of 35 local firms and contains a listing
of nearly 200 local firms in the industry.

* former employee

5
Table of Contents

Major Findings 9
Introduction 11
The National Industry: Definition, History and Growth 11
The Biotechnology Industry in Montgomery County 13
Institutions in Biotechnology 13
Federal Agencies in Biotech Research 13
Non-Federal Institutions 14
The Importance of the Biotechnology Industry 16
Sequencing the Human Genome 16
Bioinformatics 18
The Biotechnology Industry is Rapidly Growing 19
“S” Curve Growth 19
Evidence of Rapid Growth 20
Critical Mass Attracts Supporting Industries 22
Implications of Rapid Growth for Montgomery County 23
Biotech Firms Here are Diverse & Interconnected 24
The Silicon Valley Electronics Industry as a Model for Biotech 24
Federal Connections 25
Connections with Educational Institutions 26
Connections with Other Firms 27
Land Use 30
Buildings for Biotechnology Firms 30
Use of Buildings by Type 30
Leasing Versus Owning Buildings 31
Wet Lab Space 31
Needs of Startup and Expanding Firms 34
Employment Centers Used by Clusters of Biotech Firms 37
Shady Grove 39
Gaithersburg 40
East Gude Drive 41
Airpark 42
Rockville Pike 43
Twinbrook 44
Bethesda CBD 45
Satisfaction with Montgomery County as a Business Location 46
Appendix I, Interview Notes 49
Appendix II, Listing of Biotech Firms in County 79

7
List of Figures
Map – Biotechnology Firms 11
Map – Federal Agencies in Biotech 13
Chart – Typical S Curve 19
Table – S Curve Growth 20
Chart – Biotech Patent Activity 20
Chart – FDA Biotech Drug Approvals 21
Chart – Gains in Biotech Stock Prices 22
Map – Clusters of Biotech Firms 38
Table and Map – Shady Grove 39
Table and Map –Gaithersburg 40
Table and Map - East Gude Drive 41
Table and Map – Airpark 42
Table and Map – Rockville Pike 43
Table and Map – Twinbrook 44
Table and Map – Bethesda Central Business District 45

8
Staff Acknowledgements

The Maryland National Capital Park & Planning Commission


Montgomery County Department of Park & Planning

Charles R. Loehr, Director


Drew Dedrick, Chief, Research & Technology Center

Authors

Frederick R Peacock, Research Master Planner Principal Author


Joel Yesley*, Volunteer Researcher Coauthor, Interviews
Gary Goodwin, Research Coordinator National Industry and Firm
Listing

Contributing Staff

Belle Burkhart, Research and Technology Web


Charles Coleman, Management Services Reproduction
Sam Dixon, Management Services Cover Design

Thanks to Amy Finan, Robert Catineau, and Henry Bernstein of the Montgomery County Department of
Economic Development for their help throughout this project.

*Mr. Yesley no longer works for Park & Planning

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