Israel-Based NRGene Chooses St. Louis, Missouri, For United States Operations
04/08/2016
According to the firm, NRGene’s proven, unique, and comprehensive genomic big data platform enables the detection of genetic differences among individuals that underlie many key traits for breeding such as yield improvement, ability to grow in harsh environmental conditions, and disease resistance. Among its accomplishments, NRGene was the first company to successfully assemble the whole genome sequence for bread wheat, one of the most complex plant or animal genomes.
This is the fourth Israeli company recruited to St. Louis since November 2014 with the help of the Missouri Partnership and BioSTL’s Global STL initiative, which aims to build a direct link between St. Louis and other countries by recruiting international companies to establish a U.S. presence in St. Louis. In 2014, the General Assembly passed and Governor Nixon signed legislation establishing a Missouri trade office in Israel.
“Missouri as the ‘Heartland’ of American agriculture is the natural U.S. home for NRGene,” said Gil Ronen, CEO of NRGene. “Our strong partnership with the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center brought us to St. Louis, and GlobalSTL convinced us to stay.”
“Missouri is a world-renowned hub of bioscience innovation and with our unemployment rate dropping to just 4.2 percent, today’s announcement builds on this strong economic momentum,” Governor Jay Nixon said. “NRGene’s decision to locate its U.S. headquarters in St. Louis is another big win for the region and a testament to our commitment to competing worldwide for jobs and investment. I’m very pleased that our bipartisan trade delegation to Israel has already yielded concrete benefits for our state, and look forward to making more good news in the weeks and months to come.”
Creating jobs in the bioscience sector has been a key priority, Governor Nixon’s administration said. The industry was identified as a targeted sector in the Governor’s Strategic Initiative for Economic Growth and now includes more than 4,000 agribusiness and life science companies, including global giants Monsanto and KWS. Missouri’s excellent institutions of higher education provide Missouri with the world’s largest concentration of plant scientists, with 40 of the state’s colleges and universities offering bachelor’s degrees or higher in biological or biomedical science. Additionally, Missouri ranks second in the number of farms in the U.S., providing plant science companies with easy access to suppliers and customers.
Project Announcements
Kikkoman Foods Plans Jefferson, Wisconsin, Operations
04/26/2024
BWX Technologies Expands Cambridge, Ontario, Nuclear Production Operations
04/26/2024
Greenheck Group Plans Knoxville, Tennessee, Operations
04/26/2024
Local Bounti Plans Pasco, Washington, Indoor Agricultural Operations
04/26/2024
Innovative Construction Group Plans Siler City, North Carolina, Production Operations
04/26/2024
Crystal Window and Door Systems Plans Mansfield, Texas, Headquarters-Production Operations
04/25/2024
Most Read
-
2023's Leading Metro Locations: Hotspots of Economic Growth
Q4 2023
-
2023 Top States for Doing Business Meet the Needs of Site Selectors
Q3 2023
-
38th Annual Corporate Survey: Are Unrealized Predictions of an Economic Slump Leading Small to Mid-Size Companies to Put Off Expansion Plans?
Q1 2024
-
Making Hybrid More Human in 2024
Q1 2024
-
Manufacturing Momentum Is Building
Q1 2024
-
20th Annual Consultants Survey: Clients Prioritize Access to Skilled Labor, Responsive State & Local Government
Q1 2024
-
Public-Private Partnerships Incentivize Industrial Development
Q1 2024