1997: Under the leadership of Bob Case and Michael Berens, Ph.D., the Arizona Bioindustry Cluster was born.
2003: In recognition of the commitment to build a viable biosciences industry in Arizona, the Arizona Bioindustry Cluster was reincorporated and becomes the Arizona Bioindustry Association. The State of Arizona invests $500 million in Arizona bioscience research infrastructure including the Biodesign Institute at ASU and the BIO5 Institute at the University of Arizona.
2005: The Flinn Foundation provides grant support to our statewide educational outreach efforts. Jon McGarity, who wrote the grant the Flinn grant proposal, becomes the first President and CEO of the Arizona Bioindustry Association. The community gathers for the first annual Arizona Bioindustry Awards dinner.
2006: BIO/Battelle report that Arizona’s life science sector includes 317 establishments with research, testing, and medical laboratories represents the largest bioscience subsector in Arizona (6,741 jobs). Recent job growth was rapid in this subsector (up 35 percent) and also in medical devices and equipment (up 20 percent). Academic research expenditures in the biosciences totaled $333 million in 2006
2007: C. Robert Eaton is named President & CEO of the Arizona Bioindustry Association replacing Jon McGarity who left to lead an AZBio Member Company.
2008: Some 200 professionals spanning the bioscience sector met in Tucson for Biozona 2008, Arizona’s annual biotech conference. Biozona 2008, formerly the Arizona Bio Expo, was AZBio’s first major event since it restructured and integrated with the Bioindustry Organization of Southern Arizona.
2009: Robert Green steps in as interim President and CEO to help AZBio continue to grow and fulfill its mission
2010 BIO/Battelle reports Arizona’s bioscience industry continues to grow at a rapid rate. Industry firms have increased employment by 30 percent overall since 2001 and have even added jobs since 2007, a period which includes the deep national recession. Arizona’s life science sector includes 1,219 establishments with research, testing, and medical laboratories represents the largest bioscience subsector in Arizona (21,084 jobs).
2011: Joan Koerber-Walker becomes AZBio’s President & CEO.
2012: Arizona turns 100 and the Bioscience Road Map Turns 10. Arizona’s Bioscience Industry has grown jobs at 4 times the national average and the number of firms by 27% in a decade. Arizona’s bioscience industry continues to experience rapid job growth, increasing employment by nearly 22 percent since 2007, a period which includes the deep national recession and overall declines for the state’s
private sector. State bioscience firms employed 23,545 across 1,266 establishments in 2012
2014: The Flinn Foundation announces that Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap, which was released in 2002 and has been updated in 2014 to guide the growth and development of the state’s bioscience sector through 2025. AZBio hosts the first White Hat Life Science Investor Conference bringing together venture capitalists and angel investors with innovative life science companies from across the Rocky Mountain Southwest. Arizona’s bioscience industry has grown in recent years and by 2014 state bioscience firms employed just over 24,000 in nearly 1,300 business establishments. Four of the state’s five bioscience subsectors have contributed to its 2 percent overall employment gain since 2012, led by double-digit job growth in medical devices (up 11 percent).
2016: AZBio hosts the inaugural Arizona Bioscience Week to raise awareness about Arizona’s Bioscience Industry locally and nationally. Investors and Innovators come together at the second White Hat Life Science Investor Conference. The Annual Economic Impact of Arizona’s biotech and medtech industry in 2016 was $23.16 billion based on Arizona’s share of the industry’s $2 Trillion impact nationally. Arizona has a sizable and rapidly growing bioscience industry. State bioscience firms employed 25,686 in 2016 in 1,310 individual business establishments. Industry employment has grown by 9 percent since 2014, twice the growth rate of the nation, with four of the five major subsectors adding jobs during the period.
2017: The State of Arizona provides bonding authority for $1 billion for investments in University Research Infrastructure. This investment continues a collaboration between the State of Arizona, Industry Leaders, Philanthropists, and Arizona’s Universities that is driving Arizona towards its goal of becoming a top-tier bioscience state.
2018: The Flinn Foundation reports that Arizona’s Bioscience Industry has grown jobs by 58% in the period from 2002-2016. BIO includes Arizona in its list of top job creators for the period. AZBio hosts the third White Hat Life Science Investor Conference. The Annual Economic Impact of Arizona’s biotech and medtech industry in 2018 was $32.67 billion. Arizona’s bioscience industry is growing rapidly and reached nearly 30,000 jobs spanning 2,160 business establishments in 2018. Industry employment has grown by 15 percent since 2016—twice
the growth rate of the nation—with each of the five major subsectors adding jobs during the period.
2019: AZBio receives a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Agency to establish a sustainable life science seed fund in Arizona. AZBio partners with the Opportunity Through Entrepreneurship Foundation (OTEF) to create AZAdvances.
2020: Arizona’s investments in bioscience talent and infrastructure are put to good use during the COVID-19 pandemic as the industry supports the health needs of the community. As large in-person meetings are unsafe, the AZBio Awards are presented as Celebrating Life and Science, a 1-hour prime time network television event on ABC15 and CW61. AZBio hosts the fourth White Hat Life Science Investor Conference in a virtual format. Since White Hat’s inception, presenting companies have gone on to raise over $1.8 billion in investment.
2021: TEConomy Partners reports Arizona’s life science workforce includes 36,410 workers across 2,912 establishments. The Annual Economic Impact of Arizona’s biotech and medtech industry in 2021 was $38.54 billion. Celebrating Life and Science celebrates the work of our health innovators on ABC15 and CW61 and AZBio’s Health Innovation Spotlight campaign reaches over 2 million TV viewers. Mayo Clinic purchases 228-acre land parcel in North Phoenix for further patient care expansion and the development of a biotechnology corridor named the Discovery Oasis.
2022: The Arizona Health Innovation Trust Fund is established as a permanent endowment with the State Treasurer serving as trustee. The State Board of Investment approves the contract with OTEF for AZAdvances to deliver the workforce development, entrepreneurial programs, and investments needed to accelerate the growth of health innovations and life science employment in Arizona after the endowment fund matures. The 7th annual Arizona Bioscience Week returns in-person and includes the 5th White Hat Life Science Investor Conference. Since White Hat’s inception, presenting companies have gone on to raise over $2.1 billion in investment.
2023: AZBio Celebrates 20 Years of Impact at the AZBio Awards during the 8th annual Arizona Bioscience Week.
2024: The 9th annual Arizona Bioscience Week included the largest gathering life science and business leaders in Arizona to date. The 6th White Hat Life Science Investor conference brought together life science companies from across the Rocky Mountain Southwest with investors from across the United States. Since White Hat’s inception, presenting companies have gone on to raise over $2.4 billion in investment.