The Bio-Research & Development Growth (BRDG) Park at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is uniquely prepared and positioned to host plant and life sciences and clean tech companies. BRDG Park is designed for companies that have advanced their science, demonstrated proof of concept, raised additional monies, and are poised for growth.
As our acronym implies, BRDG Park helps life sciences companies bridge research, resources and relationships to achieve commercial success.
Research
BRDG Park at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is the most prominent bio-park situated at the national and international center of plant and life sciences. World-class wet laboratories with adjoining office space and on-site technical workforce training enable companies in BRDG Park to more efficiently conduct research and improve product development.
BRDG Park’s location on the Danforth Plant Science Center’s campus provides convenient access to the intellectual capital of top scientists. Vital on-site resources also include one of the most technologically advanced growth facilities in the nation, featuring greenhouses and growth chambers. Microscopy and proteomics facilities also are state-of-the-art.
Acclaimed for having a robust research environment, the St. Louis region has the world’s largest concentration of plant science PhDs and more than 400 plant and life science enterprises with more than 16,500 employees.
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Resources
BRDG Park has exceptional resources to support the scientific and business needs of emerging life sciences and clean tech companies from the incubation to post-incubation stage, where ideas become tangible technologies.
Resources not only include buildings containing wet laboratory and office space designed for plant and life sciences companies, but also the intellectual capital of Danforth Science Center scientists to discuss research and its applications. Vital on-site resources also include one of the most technologically advanced growth facilities in the nation, featuring greenhouse, growth chambers, microscopy and proteomics facilities.
Key on-site partnerships also provide important resources, such as St. Louis Community College, which has an on-campus program for technical workforce development and training, creating unique and innovative opportunities for collaborations between academia and industry.
BRDG Park’s location creates additional resource opportunities. Across the street is the world headquarters of Monsanto, a leading global provider of agricultural products and research. Only minutes away are dynamic scientific research centers, such as Washington University, St. Louis University. BRDG Park is also convenient to the Missouri Botanical Garden – which operates one of the largest herbaria in the world with 6 million specimens – as well as to leading scientific companies, such as Pfizer, Covidien, Sigma Aldrich and Bunge North America.
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Relationships
BRDG Park is ideally positioned for emerging plant and life sciences companies. In addition to its partnership with the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, the world’s largest independent plant science research institute, it facilitates access to investment networks for emerging scientific companies.
In addition to Monsanto, a leading global provider of agricultural products and research, BRDG Park has close relationships with top scientific research centers, such as Washington University, St. Louis University and the Missouri Botanical Garden – which operates one of the largest herbaria in the world with 6 million specimens – as well as with leading scientific companies, such as Pfizer, Covidien, Sigma Aldrich and Bunge North America.
Important relationships also include the Saint Louis Community College, which has an on-site program for technical workforce development and training, as well as with the St. Louis-based national headquarters of the American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, and the World Agricultural Forum.
St. Louis venture capital environment for biotech is strong. The region has worked hard to attract and keep venture capital, as well as spark the growth of new companies, especially in biotech. There currently are 16 venture capital funds with nearly $1.7 billion under management. More than $500 million in local venture capital is devoted to biotech.