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Keith Oing
Project Manager . Business Development . Science & Research Team
804-545-5735
KOing@YesVirginia.org
In an increasingly competitive environment, life sciences firms worldwide face complex challenges in the development and commercialization of new health care, food production, environmental protection and biodefense products, technologies, and services. Virginia is well-positioned to lead in supporting life sciences research, development and commercialization because the state offers proximity to strong research institutions, a deep knowledge-based workforce and a mature savvy IT industry. A number of life sciences firms are finding success thanks to the supportive business environment in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Based on the definition used by Battelle for BIO, the Virginia life sciences industry measured here is composed of pharmaceutical manufacturing, medical device manufacturing, research and testing services, and certain agricultural feedstock-chemical manufacturing. Healthcare providers are not included in this definition.
The National Science Foundation reports that almost 20,000 doctoral scientists and engineers are employed in Virginia—the tenth largest concentration in the nation. In terms of employment, in 2008, the life sciences industry accounted for more than 16,200 jobs in Virginia at an average salary of $77,675. The Research and Testing sub sector clearly comprises the largest share of life sciences overall employment at 48% (7,778 jobs). Next is the Pharmaceuticals sub sector with 22% (3,606 jobs) of the industry’s employment. The Medical Device Manufacturing subsector also employs 22% of life sciences jobs (3,562 jobs). Finally, Agricultural Feedstock/Chemicals comprises the smallest share of industry employment at 8%, or 1,338 jobs.
The economic output of Virginia’s Life Sciences Industry is $6.7 billion. Life Sciences supports an additional $4.5 billion in economic activity in Virginia.
In 2008, the Virginia life sciences industry was comprised of approximately 700 firms. The Medical Devices and Equipment sub sector accounts for the largest share of life sciences firms with 47% of the industry (332 firms). Next is the Research and Testing sub sector with 307 firms (44% share). The Agricultural Feedstock/Chemicals sub sector accounts for 5% of life sciences firms in Virginia (33 firms). Finally, Pharmaceuticals is the smallest sector with 4% of industry-related firms (30).
There are approximately 700 life sciences companies providing services to the private and government sectors in the Commonwealth. Listed below are the top 20 life sciences companies in Virginia, ranked by employment.
|
Company Name |
Employment Range |
| Quest Diagnostics Inc. |
1,000 - 1,499 |
| Laboratory Corporation of America |
500 - 999 |
| Merck & Co., Inc. |
500 - 999 |
| Wyeth |
500 - 999 |
| Jefferson Science Associates, LLC |
500 - 999 |
| Abbott Laboratories |
500 - 999 |
| Teva Pharmaceuticals |
500 - 999 |
| Covance Laboratories Inc. |
500 - 999 |
| ODU Research Foundation |
500 - 999 |
| Carilion Consolidated Laboratory |
500 - 999 |
| Virginia Institute of Marine Science |
500 - 999 |
| Hollister Inc. |
250 - 499 |
| Battelle Memorial Institute |
250 - 499 |
| Coopervision Inc. |
250 - 499 |
| Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH |
250 - 499 |
| Bostwick Laboratories Inc. |
250 - 499 |
| Pharmaceutical Research Associates |
250 - 499 |
| AVID Medical |
250 - 499 |
| C. B. Fleet Inc. |
250 - 499 |
| American Type Culture Collection |
250 - 499 |
Over the past decade, the private sector has announced over 5,550 new jobs and $2.34 billion investment for life science research, development and manufacturing in Virginia. Recent key announcements include:
Company Name and Location |
Announced Investment |
| The Ignite Institute, Fairfax County |
$200 million |
| Covance, Prince William County |
$175 million |
| Merck & Company, Rockingham County |
$379 million |
| SRI International’s Center for Advanced Drug Research, Shenandoah Valley |
$19 million |
| Barr Laboratories, Bedford County |
$62 million |
Occupation |
Virginia Employment |
Virginia Average Wage |
U.S. Average Wage |
Biochemists and Biophysicists |
220 |
$71,050 |
$88,450 |
Biological Technicians |
530 |
$41,470 |
$40,900 |
Chemists |
1,890 |
$73,750 |
$71,070 |
Computer Support Specialists |
18,750 |
$48,000 |
$46,370 |
Inspectors/Testers |
10,500 |
$34,640 |
$33,890 |
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, etc. |
1,260 |
$39,230 |
$38,010 |
First-Line Supervisors |
13,510 |
$53,580 |
$53,500 |
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Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William & Mary
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Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Virginia Tech
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National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, George Mason University
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute
- SRI International’s Center for Advanced Drug Research (CADRE)
- Carilion Biomedical Institute
- Virginia BioTechnology Park
- University of Virginia
- Virginia Tech
- Virginia Commonwealth University
- Eastern Virginia Medical School
- George Mason University
Virginia universities are graduating significant numbers of students with the technical skills that life science and pharmaceutical companies need. In Virginia, one in every three adults holds a bachelor's or advanced degree, and over 80 percent of all high school students continue their education after graduation.
There are seven Carnegie Foundation classified “doctoral high and very high activity” research universities, four academic medical centers, and a college of veterinary medicine in the Commonwealth to prepare students for life sciences careers. Annual enrollment in Virginia institutions of higher education totals over 500,000. These universities graduate significant numbers of students with the technical skills that life science companies need.
Selected Life Sciences and Engineering Degrees Awarded 2008-2009* |
Degrees |
Total |
| Biochemistry & Biophysics |
174 |
| Bioengineering/Biomedical |
182 |
| Biology/Biomedical Sciences |
2,897 |
| Biostatistics |
45 |
| Chemical Engineering |
147 |
| Chemistry |
528 |
Health Profession &
Related Clinical Sciences |
7,565 |
Mechanical/Industrial/Manufacturing
Engineering/Technologies |
1,314 |
| Microbiology/Bacteriology |
28 |
| Other Technicians |
771 |
| Pharmacy/Pharmacology |
338 |
| Total Life Science and Related Degrees Awarded |
13,989 |
Source: State Council for Higher Education for Virginia
*Data available only for universities reporting to SCHEV
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