U.C. Berkeley’s $500 million Research institute will impact Solano County

The $500 million BP Energy Biosciences Institute (EBI) at U.C. Berkeley will have a significant impact on the growth of Solano County’s biotechnology industry.

Michael Ammann, president of Solano Economic Development Corporation (EDC), said Solano County is positioned to see more opportunities for economic growth associated with the Institute.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for Solano County,” Ammann said. “The current national and global interest in the need for alternative fuels—coupled with well funded research facilities--will position the Bay Area as a global leader.

“We are just 29 minutes from Berkeley,” Ammann pointed out, “We need to keep in mind that this is a regional Institute. Our expanding research community and our location between the Bay Area and Sacramento positions Solano County to become a major player in the EBI’s activities.”

He said that there will be many potential opportunities provided through the Institute, including:
--Joint research projects with U.C. Davis;
--Purchase of goods and services for specialized and customized hard and software products;
--Possible land lease of rural acreage to test bio-crops and pilot processing with long term scale up for production of bio-fuels.
--Opportunities to attract energy-related product suppliers;
--Obtain venture capital funds for specialized energy and green technology enterprises;
--More business travel that will bring researchers, scientists and business leaders to the Institute and the region.

“Working in partnership with Bay Area business and transportation organizations EDC will be able to increase its efforts to attract biotechnology-related businesses to Solano County,” Ammann said.

“Solano County has a strong nucleus of solid research and manufacturing firms, and the Institute could become an important vehicle for our economic growth,” he said. Ammann said the federal government is currently evaluating sites for the development of a bio-fuel research center, and the Department of Energy is expected to make a decision this summer.

“EDC and other Bay Area economic development organizations are working to see that the federal government center is located in this area,” he said.