University of Florida

Department of Commerce Awards $2 Million

to UF Center of Excellence

The U.S. Economic Development Administration awarded a $2 million grant on Feb. 24 to the University of Florida’s Center of Excellence for Regenerative Health Biotechnology to help fund construction of a state-of-the-art biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility.

The grant will fund renovation of one of two buildings UF has purchased at Progress Corporate Park in Alachua to house the Center of Excellence.

The Economic Development Administration, or EDA, partners with state and local governments and nonprofit organizations to provide funding for projects that aid distressed communities throughout the United States.

“As we all know, government can’t create jobs, but it can set the stage for investment and innovation through economic development grants like this,” U.S. Commerce Secretary Don Evans wrote in a statement. “President Bush is committed to working with local communities to grow the economy, create jobs and encourage investments in their local areas.”

Win Phillips, UF’s vice president for research, accepted the award from Donald Sampson, the U.S. assistant secretary of commerce for economic development, at a ceremony at Tigert Hall.

“EDA’s investment of $2 million with the University of Florida will support a growing industry cluster throughout Florida as part of a statewide economic strategy to increase the advancement of technology and related research,” Sampson said, recognizing Gov. Jeb Bush’s Centers of Excellence initiative.

“New and existing private-sector companies in the regenerative health industry in this region need increased research and development capacity to stay competitive in the global economy,” Sampson continued, “and new employers will be more easily recruited to this area if state-of-the-art facilities are put in place.”

Phillips praised EDA’s commitment to the University of Florida and the state.

“Clearly the administration recognizes that getting cutting-edge research from the laboratory to the marketplace where it makes people’s lives better and strengthens our economy by creating high-wage jobs is vitally important,” Phillips said. “We appreciate EDA’s contribution to this initiative.”

The Center of Excellence for Regenerative Health Biotechnology was established in 2003 with a $10 million state grant matched by $10 million from the university. The primary focus of the center is to establish a biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility that transforms potential products discovered in the research laboratory to medicines suitable for clinical trials.

“This important translational phase in moving discoveries made at the laboratory bench to the pharmacy will be greatly enhanced by this facility,” said Richard Snyder, the center’s director. “This center of excellence is becoming a hub for regenerative health technologies and a focal point for Southeast regional economic development.”

EDA invested more than $318 million in 842 projects in 2003, spurring more than $10 billion in private investments and helping to create more than 30,000 jobs, according to Sampson.

In addition to the Center of Excellence grant, the university also manages a $194,000 EDA University Center grant through its Office of Technology Licensing. EDA University Center works to connect UF technologies with entrepreneurs and investors, leading to the creation of new businesses in the region. It also collaborates with organizations from around the state to facilitate partnerships such as the Center of Excellence grant awarded today.