Biotech
Biotech opportunities are booming in the Harlingen region, spurred by investment, talent and research.
A Hub for
global investment
Lower costs plus the region’s high quality talent and expertise have already drawn a number of leading biotech companies to the region, including Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilley, Novo Nordisk, AstraZeneca and Thermo Fisher Scientific. Companies large and small thrive in this region: Aloe Laboratories, a nationally trusted source for organic aloe vera, has expanded twice since opening in Harlingen in 2001.
A powerfully responsive talent & research pipeline
While eight high-caliber educational institutions, including a medical school, keep the general workforce quality high, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) has leaped ahead of the curve in response to global challenges and opportunities with the new School of Integrative Biological and Chemical Sciences. Created through the merger of chemistry and biology, the new school offers a strategic array of flexible degrees that better prepare students not only for pursuits such as medical, dental and veterinary schools, but also for more than 20 careers in the field of bioscience and biotech.
Other UTRGV schools and colleges are also supplying a supple talent pipeline, including UTRGV Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences and the College of Engineering and Computer Science, which offers a Masters in Biomedical Engineering.
A center of
cutting-edge research
Research is ongoing across the Rio Grande Valley, at UTRGV’s Institute of Neuroscience, a center of excellence driving critical research into brain health, advancing knowledge in areas such as neuroscience, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and cancer. UTRVG’s School of Integrative Biological and Chemical Sciences is also a key player in research as well as training in 16 different fields, ranging from environmental chemistry to neurobiology to food safety and microbiology. Clinical research and trials also allow residents to take part in advancing the quality of biomedical solutions.
A flourishing & supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem
From bench to bedside, the area’s specialized ecosystem brings momentum to the commercialization of medical innovation with targeted support for startups and entrepreneurs. The UTRGV Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center provides a wide range of resources and services, including business incubation and entrepreneurship development.