California Biotechnology Foundation launches new website and workforce directory

The California Biotechnology Foundation (CBF) today launched a new website www.cabiotech.org and unveiled a newly published workforce and education directory to help boost employment in the life sciences industry and to promote the biotechnology industry as a potential career choice for students. The launch coincides with a proclamation from Governor Schwarzenegger and a resolution by the California State Legislature recognizing California’s first Biomedical Research Day on October 21^st.

“California is the proud birthplace of biotechnology and one of the state’s signature industries. Biotech scientists are developing the next wave of DNA-based treatments that will revolutionize healthcare throughout the world,” said Joe Panetta, chair of The California Biotechnology Foundation and president and CEO of BIOCOM. “California’s life sciences industry is a leading high-tech employer, a driving force behind developing the state’s biomedical workforce and a caring community partner. We are home to more than 2,000 biotechnology companies which generate nearly $75 billion in revenue and provide jobs to more than 271,000 Californians.”

The new CBF website was developed to illustrate the multitude of programs and contributions California biotechnology companies provide to the state and throughout the world. One of the key programs featured on the CBF website is a new biotechnology workforce development guide called, Building California’s Biotechnology Work Force: A Guide to California’s Career Technical Education Programs.

The guide, which overviews a majority of biotech-sponsored workforce development programs in the state, was developed to connect California’s educators with biotech programs in order to encourage K-12 and college students to pursue a career in biotechnology, train teachers in biotechnology curriculum and assist biotech employees with additional skills development. The guide is intended to help the industry build and maintain a highly skilled and diverse workforce and continue providing Californians with well-paying, dynamic jobs.

California Biomedical Research Day will be recognized on Wednesday, October 21^st to coincide with the birthday of Alfred Nobel, Founder of the Nobel Peace Prize. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Select Committee on Biotechnology will introduce resolutions proclaiming “biomedical research in California provides immense intellectual capital that leads to new and sustained growth for the state, draws industry and citizens to California, and helps maintain California as a worldwide center for scientific study and development.”