By Brian E. Clark
WisBusiness.com
MADISON – Wisconsin may be the leader in the human embryonic stem cell field now, but that could change if support for scientific research flags, two officials with close ties to UW-Madison said Thursday.
Mark Bugher, head of the University Research Park, urged business leaders to lobby legislators to push for support for stem cell studies at an economic development breakfast sponsored by the UW-Extension’s Small Business Development Center.
Andy Cohn, government relations manager for the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), said the overall university also needs backing from commerce because it is in danger of losing top scientists and graduate students to other states.
The payoff for Wisconsin, they said, could be 10,000 new jobs and $1 billion in stem cell-related businesses during the coming decade.
Michael Mathews, a senior vice president with Ruedebusch Development and Construction in Madison, said he believes opportunities will grow for his firm and others because of Wisconsin’s research prowess.
“We are already dealing with biotech and life science companies, but the state must continue to make investments,” said Mathews, whose firm built the New Venture Center in the Fitchburg Technology Campus.
