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What’s Inside: San Carlos Proposes Ban on Biosafety Level 3 Labs; Caltrain Weekend Service Suspension; $30K Small Business Grant Contest; Participate in Our Workforce Trends Survey; and more.
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Find the latest news and information impacting the Bay Area life science industry, including local policy updates and how it affects your business, capital development initiatives, community and networking opportunities, workforce-related information and ways to maximize your savings with our Purchasing Group. If you have company news you’d like to share, please get in touch.
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Welcome New Bay Area Members
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SF Mayor London Breed Delivers State of the City Address
In her State of the City address on Thursday, Mayor Breed highlighted her aggressive plans to build more affordable housing and plans to deal with the homeless crisis. Among other issues, she also proposed a Roadmap for the Future of Downtown, a comprehensive plan that details ongoing and new strategies that set a vision to reimagine Downtown’s economic recovery and role.
San Carlos Proposal to Ban Biosafety Level 3 Labs
On Monday, the San Carlos Planning Commission heard an unprecedented, proposed ban on Biosafety Level 3 labs, which are a rare but necessary component of some life-saving research processes. Biocom California staff testified at the hearing on the regulatory compliance and overall safety of life science facilities. We urged the Planning Commission to instead move forward with a conditional use permit process. The commission directed staff to come back within 30 days with more information about BSL-3 operations and an option for these facilities to utilize a conditional use permit process.
Bay Area Cities Fall Behind on Housing Deadline
The state requires all local governments in the state, both cities and counties, to adopt a Housing Element by January 31, 2023, in order to reach mandated housing production goals. Out of 109 jurisdictions in the Bay Area, just three will reach compliance on time. Missing the deadline will open the region for developers and allow them to break typical zoning rules.
Caltrain Weekend Service Shutdowns
To finish critical electrification construction and testing in time to begin passenger service in 2024, Caltrain will be suspending rail service in select areas on weekends throughout the year starting February 11, 2023. Visit caltrain.com/status for the latest information.
Subscribe to Our Policy and Regulatory Affairs Newsletters
Stay up to date on important local, state, and federal policy and regulatory announcements that affect the life science industry with our Policy and Regulatory Affairs newsletters. Subscribe here.
In Other News:
- After 12 storms rolled through the state, the Bay Area sees significant improvement in drought conditions.
- California Supreme Court ends legal limbo for over $545M in Bay Area bridge tolls.
- Caltrain receives $367M in state funding to finish its electrification project.
- California rejected Berkeley’s housing plan, exposing it to potential fines and the threat of developers that aren’t confined by local zoning restrictions.
- Arjun Batra, a retired tech worker, was appointed the last seat on the San Jose City Council.
- The future of BART hinges on voter-approved funding measure that would partially subsidize the transit agency.
- With an estimated deficit of $728M, San Francisco Mayor London Breed told departments to slash spending and prepare for the worst.
- The cost of the proposed extension of a Caltrain high-speed rail tunnel was estimated at nearly $6.7B.
- New board committees released by San Francisco Board President Aaron Peskin show little dramatic change, but some potential.
- SF Board of Supervisors passed an ambitious housing element plan to build 82,000 new units by 2031.
- San Francisco Bay Ferry is exploring how best to serve Bay Area residents in the years to come through a survey.
- Pro-housing activists filed lawsuits against Bay Area cities and counties stating they violated state law by missing a housing deadline.
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Companies Presenting at the Global Partnering & Investor Conference
Congratulations to the companies chosen to present at our 13th annual Global Life Science Partnering & Investor Conference later this month. They represent a broad array of therapeutic areas including cardiovascular, CNS, dermatology, cell and gene therapy, immunology, infectious disease, oncology and many others. Each company will present their innovations to global pharma business development teams and many other life science investors attending the conference. Find more information about the conference here.
Apply Now: Asahi Kasei Pharma Open Innovation Program
Asahi Kasei Pharma is seeking researchers at universities, institutes, and enterprises outside of Japan for its Open Innovation Program 2023. Researchers specializing in new drug target molecules, drug candidates, therapeutic concepts and technologies in autoimmune, renal, bone, neurodegenerative diseases and pain, and drug discovery platform technologies are invited to apply. The application period closes on February 27, 2023. More information about the program can be found here.
Deadline Extended for MedTech Innovator Applications
Medtech startups looking to enter the Asia-Pacific market or region are encouraged to apply to the Medtech Innovator-APAC Program. The program will select 20 startups to join the new cohort and participate in various in-person and virtual pitch events to qualify for a chance to win $175,000 in non-dilutive funding. The deadline is extended to February 15, 2023, apply here today.
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Your Input is Needed for Our Workforce Trends Report
Biocom California Institute is working with the Coalition of State Bioscience Institutes (CSBI) and life science companies across the country to assess the most pressing talent needs in the industry, and we are requesting your company’s participation in our online survey. This information will help us identify actions to develop talent, and survey results will inform a national report to be released at the BIO conference in June. Your individual responses will be confidential and reported in aggregate with responses from other bioscience companies, and only your company name will be included in the list of responders. Start the survey here. Reach out to our Director, Workforce Strategy &
Innovation, Vicki Brannock for more information.
Exposing Contra Costa County Educators and Students to Career Pathways
On January 31, Contra Costa County Office of Education and Earn & Learn hosted the annual Health Careers Day for local high schools. Biocom California Institute and Illumina partnered to present biotechnology and life science industry workforce trends, and to highlight the variety of genomics careers available. Over 150 teachers and students joined the online event to learn about various health-related career paths and educational opportunities available in the Bay Area. View the webinars here, and contact us if you’d like more information.
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FedEx Small Business Grant Contest is Now Open: Chance to Win $30K
Calling all life science small business entrepreneurs: the FedEx Small Business Grant Contest is now open. The annual grant program seeks to reward small businesses for their hard work and innovation all year long by recognizing ten winners with $30K each—helping you drive your business further. Download the contest pamphlet here, and be sure to submit your application before February 21 to be considered.
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Looking for Lab or Office Space?
Biocom California is working together with incubators in the Bay Area to deliver the resources needed to accelerate your growth. Check out our Bay Area incubator partners.
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Committees and Working Groups
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Premium Member News
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Bonneville Labs has coworking lab and office spaces with customizable memberships for every life science need. Whether you’re a single-bench startup or an established company, they can help you find the right space. Bonneville Labs currently has availability in Berkeley, South San Francisco and their newest campus in Hayward. All locations feature flexible terms, easy access to freeways and custom amenities. Take a virtual tour or contact them for more information.
Gilead awards $7.6M in grants for health equity in breast cancer and received FDA approval for Trodelvy to treat patients with HR-positive and HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer.
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Member News
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Biocom California | Bay Area
Biocom California is the largest, most experienced leader and advocate for California’s life science sector. Our South San Francisco office aims to build the networks that are critical to growth in this thriving regional ecosystem. Our targeted programs and customized services are tailored to the specific needs of the Bay Area region. We work on behalf of more than 1,700 members to drive public policy, build an enviable network of industry leaders, create access to capital, introduce cutting-edge STEM education programs, and create robust value-driven purchasing programs.
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