HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 17

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2015

INTRODUCED BY

Monica Youngblood and John C. Ryan

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER FORM A BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY TASK FORCE TO STUDY HOW TO BEST PROMOTE, ATTRACT, SUPPORT, STIMULATE AND SUSTAIN THE BIOSCIENCES AND BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY IN NEW MEXICO, AND TO PRESENT ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE APPROPRIATE INTERIM COMMITTEES.

     WHEREAS, the United States is increasingly faced with global competition and the issue of maintaining its economic dominance; and

     WHEREAS, a nation that depends on others for its new basic science knowledge will be slow in its industrial progress and weak in its competitive position in world trade; and

     WHEREAS, scientific progress is key to the security of the nation, better health, more jobs, a higher standard of living and cultural progress; and

     WHEREAS, the goal of technology policy is to make the best use of technology in achieving the goal of improved quality of life for all; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico possesses the talent and knowledge base for scientific progress and the development of new biotechnologies; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico has been at the forefront of bioscience and biotechnology endeavors for decades and seeks to realize its potential to become a vibrant and internationally recognized bioscience cluster; and

     WHEREAS, the university of New Mexico health sciences center has received designation as a national institutes of health clinical and translational science center; and

     WHEREAS, the university of New Mexico health sciences center, with its research laboratories and in conjunction with private companies, continues to catalyze innovation and technology commercialization in bioscience and biotechnology; and

     WHEREAS, the university of New Mexico health sciences center produces an educated work force for the state of New Mexico that supports the biosciences and biotechnology industry; and

     WHEREAS, since 2004, thirty-eight new biotechnology companies have been associated with the university of New Mexico in the companies' start-up or within the course of the companies' development; and

     WHEREAS, if New Mexico can keep the production in the state, then the biotechnology industry is a strategic enterprise sector that can be extremely significant and vital to the state's economic strategy and well-being by creating high-paying jobs and bolstering the state's economy; and

     WHEREAS, governmental involvement, such as involvement of the state's legislature, is necessary to support technology policy, to prevent underinvestment in research and development and to support financial incentives and legislation for biotechnology industries in New Mexico;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the economic development department request the university of New Mexico health sciences center to convene a biotechnology industry task force to study ways to help promote, attract, support and sustain the biotechnology industry in New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the university of New Mexico health sciences center biotechnology industry task force shall be composed of representatives from the university of New Mexico health sciences center and that at least fifty percent of the task force be composed of individuals from the private sector who have experience and knowledge regarding the biotechnology industry; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the university of New Mexico health sciences center biotechnology industry task force be requested to:

          A. study and analyze optimal ways to effectively stimulate the growth of biotechnology business ventures in New Mexico;

          B. study and analyze how to attract to the state and retain biotechnology talent and companies in New Mexico by recruiting management and training a work force;

          C. study and analyze how to promote and leverage the current biotechnology industries in New Mexico to encourage additional sector industry growth;

          D. study and analyze how developing a larger biotechnology industry in the state can help contribute to the state's economy via the creation of high-paying jobs, wealth creation and building additional infrastructure;

          E. identify optimal tax incentives, credits and financing packages targeted to encourage biotechnology companies to start up and to stay in New Mexico, and to attract outside biotechnology companies to set up in New Mexico;

          F. examine whether legislation can be proposed to enhance and support the biotechnology industry in New Mexico and to attract other biotechnology companies to New Mexico;

          G. examine the feasibility of establishing a development training program that focuses on skills unique to the biotechnology industry to furnish qualified management and training work force resources to help expand and sustain the industry in New Mexico;

          H. examine how partnering with other educational institutions and technical and vocational schools, such as central New Mexico community college, in the development training program initiative to produce the biotechnology industry work force infrastructure would provide careers and stable jobs;

          I. develop ideas on how the biotechnology industry can leverage New Mexico's green initiatives;

          J. determine whether any public agencies should be created to enhance the growth of biotechnology industries in New Mexico;

          K. assess how to capitalize on the already existing relevant research and studies at the university of New Mexico to foster the development of new biotechnology companies in New Mexico; and

          L. utilize bioscience cluster measurement criteria as a tool to assess New Mexico's position in the biotechnology industry with respect to identifying the state's strengths, focusing on how to improve the state's weaknesses, capitalizing on the state's opportunities and becoming aware of threats to the state. Use of this tool includes an examination of how New Mexico compares to other states, and to the nation, where relevant, with respect to:

                (1) the number of public and private life sciences companies;

                (2) the number of persons employed by life sciences companies;

                 (3) the number of research and development dollars spent at public life sciences companies;

                (4) the number of patents issued per capita;

                (5) public life sciences company revenue and profits;  

                (6) funding received from the national institutes of health;

                (7) the number of life sciences company start-ups formed each year;

                (8) venture capital investments made or allocated as early-stage or seed investments; and

                (9) the various biotechnology industry employer bases, including nonprofit research centers, start-ups, small public companies and large public companies; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the university of New Mexico health sciences center biotechnology industry task force report its findings and recommendations to the appropriate legislative interim committees that study science, technology and economic development issues; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of economic development.

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