Blogger and biotech consultant Mary Canady had a really thought-provoking post the other day, assessing the prospects for the next major biotech hub. (Spoiler alert: She argues that online “hubs” like IAmBiotech might turn the geographical model on its head.) Here’s an excerpt:

I’d like to highlight a few examples which indicate that we will surely be welcoming many new hubs in the future, and that we may well need to think about hubs in a new way to really advance biotechnology.

I spoke with Robin Deacle at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center’s exhibit, where she explained that they have eight very active Intellectual Exchange Groups, which marry networking with research interests such as RNA or plant molecular biology. These groups are well established, the Plant Molecular Biology group was started 20 years ago and is kept active by Bayer, Monsanto, and Syngenta. In addition, Robin indicated they are interested in utilizing new media to connect researchers. As a former researcher in North Carolina’s Research Triangle, I can attest that it is truly an exciting area to work and learn, and NC will continue to be a great biotech hub.

I also spent some time with Stacy Williams Shuker from Georgia’s Centers of Innovation for Life Sciences. They also realize the power of connecting researchers who have common interests and work in the same region, and have created iResearch, what could be thought of simplistically as a ‘Facebook for Georgia Scientists.’ Like Facebook, it lists the researchers’ profiles and interests, but from a scientific perspective. It contains a database of their publications, patents, and grants, and goes a step further and creates a graphical representation of their top interests. Stacy gave me a demo (video) and I can tell you that it is really an impressive tool. It allows scientists in Georgia to connect their research and to better understand their regional biotechnology ‘ecosystem,’ and this will surely lead to advancements, even outside of the state.

My third example is not based on geography, or a particular scientific area, but it utilizes other common interests and new technologies to create a biotechnology hub…[MORE]