Biotechnology seen as key to growth

Pinning Wisconsin’s economic growth to the potential of biotechnology, Gov. Tommy Thompson has proposed a $317 million investment in cutting-edge research centers at the university.

A research assistant examines a culture growing in a campus lab. The university has a half-dozen biotechnology-related graduate programs ranked in the top ten by the National Research Council.UW-Madison generates more than $200 million each year in funding for biological research. Photo: Jeff Miller Related stories Ethicists provide insights on biotechnology advances Campus is home to national bioscience leaders Biotechnology disciplines rank among nation’s best More on biotechnology research at UW–Madison

Thompson outlined the new “BioStar” initiative during his annual “State of the State” address on Jan. 26. The campaign features a unique public-private partnership to fund four new bioscience research centers during the next eight years.

“These facilities will allow us to hire 100 new faculty members and strengthen our world-renowned team of scientists,” Thompson says. The initiative will strengthen UW–Madison’s national leadership in biological research, he adds.

“This proposal gives us the chance to keep pace with the explosive growth in biotechnology research,” agrees Chancellor David Ward. “Biotechnology is a powerful force in the new economy.”

An addition to the Biotechnology Center could be started this year. Other buildings may house microbial sciences, biochemistry and interdisciplinary biology.

Funding would include a combination of state tax support and private funds raised by the university. This public-private approach was used extensively in the 1990s to help UW–Madison modernize its science and medical buildings.

Thompson also proposed a new masters degree in biotechnology, which would provide capstone-style work force training.