The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), a national trade association, has given Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano its 2007 Governor of the Year award, recognizing her support of the biosciences in Arizona and her leadership on behalf of the biosciences during her recently completed term as Chair of the National Governor’s Association.
“Gov. Napolitano has been instrumental in building collaboration within Arizona to grow the bioscience industry. With her support, investment in bioscience research and development has increased significantly, leading to an increase in the number bioscience jobs being created in the state,” said Jim Greenwood, President and CEO of BIO. “Due to her leadership, Arizona has become one of the fastest growing states in bioscience industry development.”
Patrick Kelly, BIO’s vice president of state government relations and alliance development, presented the award to Napolitano on Sept. 17 at the Annual Conference of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) in Scottsdale.
Napolitano, elected to the first of her two terms in November 2002, has presided over rapid advances in Arizona’s bioscience endeavors. Among other accomplishments, in 2003 she supported a $440 million legislative appropriation to build new university research facilities, in 2005 she steered to approval a major tax credit for “angel” investors in bioscience firms, and in 2006 and 2007 she worked with the Legislature to secure funding for Science Foundation Arizona.
As the first woman and first Arizonan to chair the National Governor’s Association, Napolitano led an “Innovation America” initiative, which culminated in “Investing in Innovation,” a final report highlighting state-level best practices and advocating for increased funding of education and research.
BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and 31 other nations. Its Arizona affiliate is the Arizona BioIndustry Association (ABA).
For more information:
Biotechnology Industry Organization news release, 09/17/2007