Economic Impact of Health Research

Investment: Funding sources for overall research and development (2004)

Source of R&D Funding Investment State Rank
Federal Government $1,432,500,000 18
Industry $3,926,400,000 15
Universities $70,900,000 31
Non-profit $35,800,000 22
Other * $31,100,000 31
Total $5,496,600,000 16

* Other represents funding from state and local governments and funding for Federally Funded Research and Development Centers from non-federal sources.

Source: National Science Foundation, National Patterns of R&D Resources , 2006


Economic Impact: Statistics for research-driven health industries (2004)

Industry Employment Annual Salary
Pharmaceutical 2,794 $67,633
Medical Device 8,492 $51,792
Research, Testing, and Laboratories 5,079 $63,100
Overall Private Sector  $40,217

Source: Battelle Memorial Institute and Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), Growing the Nation's Biotech Sector: State Bioscience Inititives 2006


Highlights from local economic impact studies

Roche Colorado is a major pharmaceutical research and development company with an economic impact of more than $61.7 million.

In FY 2005, Colorado State University's research expenditures were $244.3 million. Furthermore, every dollar from the state generates and additional $9.59 of economic activity in the state.

University of Colorado reports that every dollar in unrestricted state general fund support to the University yields an additional $26 for the state economy. University of Colorado directly employed nearly 24,000 people and generated an additional 18,700 jobs statewide in FY 2004.

The Metro Denver area has more than 350 bioscience companies with over 11,700 employees.

The Fitzsimons Life Science District includes a science and technology park adjacent to the Anschutz Medical Campus. Once fully developed, together they are expected to produce $6.3 billion annually and support 66,800 jobs.