Pandemic a Boon for Area’s Biotech Industry

While industries like airlines, hospitality and retail struggled much of 2020, one local sector took off during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alachua’s biotechnology industry, anchored by startups mostly contained in one section of town off U.S. 441, contributed more than $1 billion to the local economy last year, aided in part by the University of Florida’s business incubator program. 

Since 1995, UF Innovate’s Sid Martin Biotech has assisted in growing therapeutic, diagnostics, medical device, clean energy, and biopharma enterprises using its network of mentors, advisers, and collaborators, said Director Mark Long.  

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