November, 2009, St. Louis, MO –
Coinciding with the recent International Plant Molecular Biology Congress (IPMB) held in St. Louis, Dr. Jerry Caulder was the featured speaker at a special Open House reception held recently at the new BioResearch and Development Growth (BRDG) Park at the Danforth Plant Science Center. (Click here for video of Dr. Caulder’s remarks).
During his remarks, Dr. Caulder, Chairman and CEO of Finistere Ventures, LLC, a life science investment company based in San Diego, focused on the critical importance of science and technology in a period of economic recovery.
“By failing to fund basic science, we Americans are missing the boat on our most crucial way to create the desperately needed high paying jobs of the future. Only science and technology can drive the strong economic growth and good jobs we need. Fortunately, BRDG Park is showing the right way to a bright future -- commercial development of scientific advances. That development depends on capital, and that’s why venture capitalists are excited by BRDG Park,” said Dr. Caulder.
Following Dr. Caulder’s remarks, attendees were invited to tour three tenant’s spaces in the new four-story 110,000 sq. ft. facility which opened in June 2009 the first of three buildings at BRDG Park. New tenant open houses were hosted by Divergence, St. Louis Community College and Nidus Center for Scientific Enterprise.
Divergence, www.divergence.com, is a world leader in developing products for the control of parasites in agriculture. The company’s research breakthroughs show strong promise of developing a safe, effective solution for farmers to combat parasites that reduce the yields of many crops. Divergence, which graduated in 2008 from the Nidus Center of Scientific Enterprise, a business incubator, recently announced that it had raised $11.8 million in a Series C financing round, more than doubling the amount of equity capital raised by the growing company since its inception in 1999.
Nidus Center for Scientific Enterprise, www.niduscenter.com, is a prominent incubator
for plant and life sciences companies. In an effort to increase the talent and capital base in St. Louis, Nidus is embarking on a new strategic direction designed to create partnerships with local corporations engaged in Ag, Food and Energy that will spur innovation. Facilities include mall footprint labs and offices, flexible lease terms and access to common equipment, in addition to access to high tech research facilities at the Danforth Plant Science Center.
The St. Louis Community College’s Center for Plant and Life Sciences biotechnician training program, www.stlcc.edu, which has been recognized for excellence by the Missouri Biotechnology Organization (MOBIO), will create unlimited and innovative opportunities for collaborations between academia and industry. St. Louis Community College will help distinguish BRDG Park as one of the only research parks to have an on-site biotech workforce development and training program.
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