Area Development
Georgia
Biotechnology is one of the strongest sectors in Georgia's high-tech economy. Ernst & Young recently ranked the Peach State as the seventh-largest bioscience center in the United States, based on total number of companies. In 2005, the life sciences industry employed 15,237 people in addition to more than 7,500 employees working for the Centers for Disease Control and state universities. Georgia is home to a number of life sciences companies, including Merial, Solvay, Ciba Vision, and, UCB. UCB recently announced it will invest $5 million in its Cobb County facility.

Quintiles Transnational, a leading pharmaceutical development company, recently announced a significant expansion in Georgia. The company is adding 400 jobs over the next four years to its Cobb County facility at a $19 million investment.

"Atlanta, home of the U.S. headquarters of UCB, is our gateway to the North American market and one of our strategic sites. We are extremely pleased that the state of Georgia supports UCB on our road to building the next generation biopharma leader."

Roch Doliveux, D.V.M., Chief Executive Officer,
UCB
Smyrna, Georgia

A study conducted for TAG by Angelou Economics found that Georgia had a higher percentage of educated, 25- to 44-year-old residents than any technology center in the country. The study also concluded that Georgia finished fourth in the country last year in high-tech mergers, tied with New York, with some $6 billion in 60 deals.

Georgia's work force is supported by 105 public colleges, universities, and technical colleges. The joint Georgia Tech-Emory Department of Biomedical Engineering, ranked second best in the country in the most recent U.S. News & World Report survey.

The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) reported that information technology job openings climbed 3.8 percent in April over the previous month. TAG also pointed out that one of the job categories with the strongest long-term growth in demand is software development, where job opportunities grew 5.1 percent over the past 12 months.

A study conducted for TAG by Angelou Economics found that Georgia had a higher percentage of educated, 25- to 44-year-old residents than any technology center in the country. The study also concluded that Georgia finished fourth in the country last year in high-tech mergers, tied with New York, with some $6 billion in 60 deals.

Georgia's work force is supported by 105 public colleges, universities, and technical colleges. The joint Georgia Tech-Emory Department of Biomedical Engineering, ranked second best in the country in the most recent U.S. News & World Report survey.