State hopes to incubate biotech sector

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Karl B. Kelly, chief executive of the South Carolina Biotechnology Incubation Program, said Wednesday that various biotech or pharmaceutical companies are evaluating South Carolina for a total of $2.9 billion in manufacturing or research investment.

The figure is a conservative estimate based on "the consultants and clients we're corresponding with," Kelly said, declining to name the companies. Part of his job is acting as a liaison to the life sciences industry for the South Carolina Department of Commerce, the agency responsible for recruiting industry.

While it's not realistic to expect South Carolina to land all of the $2.9 billion in possible investment, "We hope to announce one or two major projects in the next 24 months, and then build successfully on that with additional companies," Kelly said.

Earlier this month, the state Legislature approved incentives legislation that lawmakers said was needed to recruit a major drug company to Greenville County. Local and state officials have declined to publicly identify the company.

State Commerce Secretary Bob Faith wouldn't confirm or deny whether any biotech prospect has been eyeing Greenville County.

"We're very active in that area, and have multiple projects that we hope to be talking about publicly soon," Faith said Wednesday.

Kelly's organization is a key sponsor of the second annual Palmetto Biotechnology Conference, which brings high-level industry executives to Greenville today and Friday. The conference begins at 3 p.m. today at the Palmetto Expo Center.

Scheduled speakers include Jim Self, a South Carolina native who is senior director of business development for Merck & Co., a New Jersey-based pharmaceutical company with sales of $2.3 billion last year. Also scheduled to speak is Johannes Roebers, senior director of engineering for Biogen Idec Inc., a Cambridge, Mass.-based biotech company with sales of $680 million in 2003.

Gov. Mark Sanford is scheduled to speak at 3:30 p.m. Friday to close the conference.

The conference, first held in Charleston last year, is designed in part to introduce industry leaders to South Carolina's charms. According to Kelly, those include a lot of water capacity available for bulk manufacturing that was originally developed for the textiles industry.

The conference is open to the public. Registration costs $150.