This annual special edition of St. Louis Commerce Magazine focuses on the St. Louis BioBelt—a world-class center for plant and life sciences research, investment and business opportunity in the St. Louis region. This issue is not only presented to our regular subscribers, but is also being distributed to the 20,000 senior-level life-science professionals attending the 2009 BIO International Convention in Atlanta.
This issue also highlights the joint presentations by both the Missouri Biotechnology Association and the Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization—representing the
St. Louis region’s unique assets to the nation and the world at this year’s BIO conference.
The cover story examines the global leadership role of St. Louis-based Sigma-Aldrich, which produces more than 110,000 different chemicals and manufactures over 46,000 of these materials themselves at one of their
14 production sites located around the world. It employs nearly 8,000 people in 38 different countries.
This issue also explores the latest addition to the unique life-sciences facilities in the BioBelt in the form of the Bio-Research & Development Growth (BRDG) Park at the Danforth Plant Science Center, which significantly adds to the region’s real estate capacity to undertake tech transfer and
commercialization of great research in the
St. Louis region.
Other real estate enhancements to the BioBelt region include $361 million in recent physical expansions to existing facilities at Covedian, bioMerieux and Pfizer.
Two simultaneous events will highlight the importance of St. Louis as the center of plant sciences, agriculture and life sciences in May. The World Agricultural Congress once again will take place May 18th through the 20th at the St. Louis Ballpark Hilton Hotel. Plus, the first-ever Ag Innovation Showcase will be held May 18th and the 19th at the new BRDG Park, bringing together venture capitalists and entrepreneurs from throughout the nation. The RCGA and St. Louis
Commerce Magazine are among the sponsors of both events.
Later this year an international congress will bring together the leading plant scientists from around the world to St. Louis. The 9th International Congress on Plant Molecular Biology will be held at the America’s Center convention complex October 25th through the 30th.
Finally in this month’s edition, “A Day in the Work Life” features Dr. George Goodman, president of Logan College of Chiropractic and our “Spotlight” features Don Frail, site director and vice president of research and development at Pfizer.
We hope you enjoy reading this issue of
St. Louis Commerce Magazine. As always, please send your comments and suggestions to us at dfleming@stlrcga.org.
RICHARD C.D. FLEMING
Publisher
St. Louis Commerce Magazine
