Silicon Valley to Increase Biotech Recruitment

SAN JOSE-The San Jose Redevelopment Agency and the Bay Area Bioscience Center are hosting a meeting this week to try to lure biotechnology firms into the San Jose Area.

The meeting will discuss what the city and redevelopment agency can do to provide space and incentives to attract biotechnology companies into San Jose. The city has pinpointed key areas of interest to these firms, such as the Edenvale technology park and the Innovation Triangle, and will market these properties to potential tenants.

SJRA has invited members of San Jose’s city staff, such as Mayor Ron Gonzales and SJRA Executive Director Susan Shick, and local developers, planners and biotech firms to the meeting. SJRA plans to brainstorm to think of ideas to lure the biotech industry into the region.

While San Jose was the center of technology for years, the city only has about 20 biotech firms, which are mostly medical devise companies. Currently, San Francisco is the lead with 70 firms.

San Jose officials believe that city is set up perfectly for a biotechnology explosion. The city could provide all the necessary development for bioscience companies and intends to prove this to potential tenants. After this week’s meeting, SJRA expects to hire a consultant to develop a business plan to present to the city council in March. The agency plans to market heavily to the biotechnology industry after this point.