In the middle of dairy country, nestled by four glacial lakes, Madison, Wisconsin is quietly emerging as a biotechnology and life science powerhouse. The state's capital, Madison is a study in contrasts. Here the Midwest conservative work ethic coexists with the city's liberal-progressive politics, and scientists at the University of Wisconsin (UW)-Madison enjoy world-class research facilities and an affordable cost of living that colleagues in many other biotech "hotspots" can only dream of.
Indeed, Madison is consistently ranked among the best places to live in the United States by Money magazine and other publications. Last year, Forbes magazine named Madison the number-one city for business and careers based on its strength in education and economy, low rate of unemployment, and affordable living. "It's a wonderful place to live," says James Keck, professor of biomolecular chemistry at UW-Madison's medical school. "It's a smaller city surrounded by beautiful countryside, yet it has ...
