Florida’s health care and life sciences industries are growing at a record pace and companies focused on medical research, health product development and manufacturing are locating to Pasco County, just north of Tampa.
The location lends itself to the opportunity to build and grow state-of-the-art facilities close to Tampa International Airport, major universities and interstate freeways, while staying near new communities that are attracting a workforce with the advanced skill sets required in the life sciences industry.
These attributes played a role in the Moffitt Cancer Center’s decision to build a 775-acre (313-hectare) research, development, manufacturing and office park in Pasco County in close proximity to Tampa’s quickly developing life sciences corridor. Moffitt recently unveiled Speros FL as the name of the planned global innovation center. Given that the region’s workforce pipeline is augmented by more than 20,000 graduates annually, it is no surprise that Moffitt chose Pasco. The move affirms similar decisions made by international health care companies such as Touchpoint Medical and fast-growing start-ups like Bravado Pharmaceuticals.
Pasco Economic Development Council President and CEO Bill Cronin is looking forward to the many benefits that will arise from this development.
“There will be a lot of other innovations, technology developments and collaborations that will grow out of this. This will make room for Japanese companies, especially those in pharmaceuticals. It is very important for the center to have partners that are willing to do clinical trials on the spot and work together,” Cronin said.
