Biotechnology -- SmartBio Initiative

Modern healthcare, food production, environmental protection, and biodefense share a common need for better understanding of complex, living systems. These sectors increasingly rely upon sophisticated analytical tools and information technology to obtain and decipher large volumes of complex biological information in digital form. The applications and markets for information technology in the life sciences -- broadly defined as bioinformation -- are many and varied, including biological research (i.e. genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics, computational biology, drug discovery, and pharmacogenomics), direct healthcare delivery (clinical informations), healthcare management, agribusiness, environmental management, criminal justice, and public health/homeland security.

In 2004, CIT coined the term "SmartBio" for its strategic focus on research and technologies at the intersection of life sciences and information technology that:

• Enable better understanding of complex living systems, and
• Drive public development and commercialization of "smarter" inventions in healthcare, agriculture, public safety, and the environment.

Virginia is well-positioned to take a leadership role in SmartBio research, development, and commercialization because of its strong bioscience research institutions and its mature and savvy IT industry.

The biotechnology industry has gained traction with major investments, including the Virginia BioTechnology Research Park in Richmond and other research parks and incubators throughout the state, and the Janelia Farm Research Campus (JFRC) of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in Loudoun County. In addition, biotechnology research, education, and training is underway in companies and at Virginia's colleges and universities throughout the state. CIT encourages and facilitates discussions among the state's research institutuions, federal and state labs and government officials, and life science-related industries, in order to develop a unified vision and increased collaboration in the area of information technology applied to living systems. Many regions across the state have identified biotechnology, in some form, as an industry priority for their area. Learn more about the ways these regions are championing this sector by checking out the Innovation Index.

For more information about the biotechnology sector, please visit the Virginia Biotechnology Association (VABio), and for more information on seed fund investing exclusively in life sciences companies, visit the CIT GAP BioLife Fund.