In 2002, Arizona’s first biosciences roadmap was launched. It was a strategy for the state to compete for higher-paying science jobs that could also lead to medical advancements.
This week, with support from the Phoenix-based Flinn Foundation, the second stage of the roadmap is being kicked off. It is intended to look at where the state should be in the biosciences by 2025. Supporters say Arizona should keep going forward, pointing to the industry’s performance during the Great Recession, when Arizona lost 300,000 positions while the number of biosciences jobs went up 6 percent.
Walt Plosila, senior advisor for Battelle, is leading the new roadmap.