Biotech hot spots

Rochester is where information technology and medical research converge. Home to the Mayo Clinic, a large medical center that employs over 25,000 people in the area, and IBM Rochester's supercomputer, BlueGene, as well as the University of Minnesota, the city is a hub for biotechnology.

But while these three behemoths tend to dominate the local biotech industry, Rochester is making a concerted effort to attract small businesses and venture capital firms alike. Current initiatives include the Minnesota BioBusiness Center, a 150,000 square-foot office and laboratory complex that is due to be completed by early 2009, accommodating businesses that want to be close to Rochester's bioscience assets. Business and financial support comes from organizations such as Rochester Area Economic Development Inc., a private-public partnership that focuses on the bioinformatics, biopharmaceutical, and medical device industries

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