![[photo, Columbus Center, 701 East Pratt St, Baltimore, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/25univ/biot/images/1198-1-1752.jpg)
Biotechnology is a science that uses or manipulates living organisms or systems to develop useful products. It has been widely used in agriculture in areas such as the genetic engineering of pest-resistant crops, or cross-breeding of animals or plants to alter their characteristics. In medicine, it has helped to develop vaccines and supplements.
Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research, Columbus Center, 701 East Pratt St., Baltimore, Maryland, April 2007. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
Throughout the years, Maryland has been first with medical breakthroughs: colon cancer blood test, Ebola rapid test, and human genome mapping. Maryland is first in the world for adult stem cell production and vaccine research and development. In other areas of research and development, Maryland tops the nation in National Institutes of Health (NIH) Contract Awards and Federal Obligations.
As part of the BioHealth Capital Region, Maryland, along with Virginia and Washington, DC, has ranked 4th in the nation in Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN)'s annual list of Top 10 U.S. Biopharma Clusters since 2015. The rankings are based on five criteria: National Institutes of Health funding, venture capital funding, patents, lab space, and jobs. The Region's goal is to reach the "top three" by 2023.
More than 500 bioscience companies and 2,700 life science firms have chosen Maryland for their business site. Many companies are located in Montgomery County, including AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline, as well as the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
![[photo, World Trade Center Baltimore,
401 East Pratt St, Baltimore, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/36loc/bcity/images/1198-1-4302.jpg)
The Life Science Investment Fund (part of the Maryland Technology Development Corporation) connects research groups with funding and clients. It also promotes Maryland as a good base of operations for bioscience facilities. The Biotechnology Investment Incentive Tax Credit (BIITC) provides investors with tax credits of 33% of an investment in qualified Maryland biotechnology companies (up to $250,000 for each company per fiscal year). If the company is located in Allegany, Dorchester, Garrett or Somerset Counties. tax credits of 50% of an investment (up to $500,000 for each company per fiscal year) may be provided.
In Maryland, the Life Sciences Advisory Board promotes science research and manufacturing. The Board also coordinates resources and seeks to support federal science facilities in the State.
Research by the University of Maryland, College Park, the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology is used by the Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research of the University System of Maryland to develop advances in science, medicine, and engineering.
BioMaryland Center, World Trade Center Baltimore, 401 East Pratt St., Baltimore, Maryland, November 2009. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
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