The Hindu Business Line : Greater Boston Chamber drafts plan to grow life sciences segment

, THE Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce (GBCC), which is now advocating an aggressive public policy agenda on behalf of its members, who include many of the region's top (Fortune 500) companies, has called for a clear development review process that enables companies, particularly in the life sciences field, to build new facilities in a timely manner.

The underlying concern, as per latest studies, is the trend of declining international graduate student applications and enrolment post-9/11.

It is learnt that in 2005, student applications from China and India have declined by 13 per cent and 9 per cent, respectively.

As per available database, in 2004, nearly all fields of study saw decreased enrolment, "but the 10 per cent decline in life sciences-related programmes was one of the largest".

Briefing a nine-member Indian delegation led by the Indian Chamber of Commerce, Kolkata, comprising corporate and legal professionals, in Boston, recently on the broad activities of the chamber, Mr James Boyle, Assistant Director of Economic Development, GBCC, said the chamber was now working on a programme to strengthen Greater Boston's standing "as a world leader in the sciences research, industry and innovation".

According to a recent study by Spaulding & Slye Colliers International, Greater Boston, in the US, has long been recognised as a leader in scientific research, medical technology and healthcare in the world.

The study, titled `Sustaining Greater Boston's Life Science Leadership', pointed out that Greater Boston needed a continuous supply of trained and educated entry level life science workers to respond to the industry's employment needs and potential.

The GBCC in turn intends to work with industry leaders as well as private and public higher education leaders to increase the supply of trained life science workers.

According to the US Bureau of Labor statistics, between now and 2010, some 12,400 graduates will be needed annually to staff the nation's clinical laboratories, and currently, there are 4,200 graduates a year, indicating a shortage of over 8,000 laboratory professionals a year if this trend continues.

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