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Industry Expertise: Biosciences

Facts & Figures

Life science companies are doing the math and discovering that the low cost of doing business in the Midwest can bring big savings to their bottom line.

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Biotechnology employment and establishments

 

Iowa

Minnesota

Wisconsin

Biotech industry sector

Empl.

#Est.

Empl.

#Est.

Empl.

#Est.

Biological
products
(excluding
diagnostic)
mfg.

1,000-2,499

8

226

11

901

11

R&D in
physical,
engineering
and life
sciences

2,894

81

7,129

211

3,614

164

Source: 2004 County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau, June 2006.

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Costs of operating a biomedical facility

 

San Jose, Calif.

Madison, Wis.

Ames, Iowa

Sioux Falls, S.D.

Weighted
Average Yearly
Earnings

$48,536

$41,800

$41,276

$37,422

Annual Base
Payroll Costs

$4,863,600

$4,180,000

$4,127,600

$3,742,200

Fringe Benefits

$1,310,472

$1,128,600

$1,114,452

$1,010,394

Total Annual
Labor Costs

$6,184,072

$5,308,600

$5,242,052

$4,752,594

Electric Power
Costs

$275,040

$113,772

$101,568

$105,312

Facility Lease
Costs

$3,708,750

$1,732,600

$1,500,000

$1,275,000

Equipment
Amortization
Costs

$1,468,800

$1,468,800

$1,468,800

$1,468,800

Heating & Air
Conditioning
Costs

$164,154

$156,727

$146,757

$158,748

Corporate
Travel Costs

$325,264

$230,287

$223,812

$202,808

Total Annual
Geographically
Variable
Operation
Costs

$12,106,100

$9,010,686

$8,682,989

$7,963,262

Source: The Boyd Company, Princeton, New Jersey

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Midwestern operating costs for a biomedical facility

Rank

Biomedical
facility location

Total annual
operating costs

% versus
leading area

1

San Jose, Calif.

$12,106,100

100%

7

Chicago, Ill.

$10,172,623

84%

19

St. Louis, Mo.

$9,245,045

76%

22

Cleveland, Ohio

$9,163,992

76%

28

Madison, Wis.

$9,010686

74%

29

Milwaukee, Wis.

$8,987,729

74%

30

Kansas City, Mo.

$8,906,362

73%

34

Columbus, Ohio

$8,697,095

72%

35

Des Moines/Ames, Iowa

$8,682,989

72%

36

Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn.

$8,670,996

72%

39

Rochester, Minn.

$8,547,240

71%

48

Sioux Falls, S.D.

$7,963,262

66%

Source: The Boyd Company, Princeton, New Jersey

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Biotechnology rankings in the Alliant Energy area

Patents issued:

  • Iowa: 23rd
  • Minnesota: 6th
  • Wisconsin: 14th

Source: 2007 Development Report Card for the States, Corporation for Enterprise Development, released January 18, 2007.

Venture capital investments:

  • Iowa: 45th
  • Minnesota: 22nd
  • Wisconsin: 31st

Source: 2007 Development Report Card for the States, Corporation for Enterprise Development, released January 18, 2007.

Industry investment in R&D:

  • Iowa: 32nd
  • Minnesota: 11th
  • Wisconsin: 25th

Source: 2002 New Economy Index, Milken Institute

University R&D:

  • Iowa: 10th
  • Minnesota: 40th
  • Wisconsin: 14th

Source: 2007 Development Report Card for the States, Corporation for Enterprise Development, released January 18, 2007.

Ph.D. scientists & engineers:

  • Iowa: 33rd
  • Minnesota: 19th
  • Wisconsin: 38th

Source: 2007 Development Report Card for the States, Corporation for Enterprise Development, released January 18, 2007.

Electronic Public Services:

  • Iowa: 31st
  • Minnesota: 42nd
  • Wisconsin: 28th

Source: 2007 Development Report Card for the States, Corporation for Enterprise Development, released January 18, 2007.

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Acres of corn planted for grain

Includes both non-biotech and biotech varieties

  • Iowa: 12,400,000
  • Illinois: 11,450,000
  • Minnesota: 6,800,000
  • Wisconsin: 2,800,000
  • U.S.: 72,091,000

Source: Acreage, National Agricultural Statistics Service, June 2006.

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Corn: Biotechnology varieties

Percent of all corn planted, 2005-2006

Variety

Iowa

Minn.

Wis.

U.S.

Insect resistant (Bt)

32

28

22

25

Herbicide resistant

14

29

18

21

Stacked gene varieties

18

16

10

15

All biotech varieties

64

73

50

61

Source: Acreage, National Agricultural Statistics Service, June 2006.

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Soybeans: Biotechnology varieties

Percent of all soybeans planted, 2005-2006

  • Iowa: 91%
  • Minnesota: 88%
  • Wisconsin: 85%
  • U.S.: 89%

Source: Acreage, National Agricultural Statistics Service, June 2006.

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More facts and figures about doing business in the Midwest

Meet Alliant Energy’s site location expert for the bioscience industry

Read the latest “Expanding Opportunities in Biosciences” newsletter

 

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