State Associations Promote Biotech Growth

The agency's plans to fund up to 80 facilities at universities now seem doomed by harsh criticism and funding shortages

In Texas, the so-called third coast of biotechnology, a new statewide association of biotechnology companies hopes to put local investors in touch with scientist entrepreneurs. Its California counterpart successfully lobbied last year against a bill restricting animal testing. A Pennsylvania association is in the process of developing a high school curriculum on biotechnology as a way to familiarize future generations with this evolving technology. And in the Bay State, the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council is particularly proud of its softball league -- and the networking that goes on between companies during the games.

Hundreds of companies and thousands of scientists, from lone entrepreneurs to the employees of large firms, are finding strength in numbers and a common voice for their political and professional concerns through affiliation with the growing number of...