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Pfizer Cuts 150 Jobs From R&D Program

Pfizer is starting out 2019 by tearing up its intermediate-stage and preclinical research and development operations focused on biosimilar drugs, which will cut off hundreds of employees who were engaged in the development program.

This is the second year in a row Pfizer has taken out its budget axe. In 2018, the firm terminated its neurosciences division, discarding new drugs and laying off about 300 workers in Andover, Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Pfizer has decided to cut off 150 workers at two of its sites in Chennai (India) and Lake Forest (Illinois, US) through phasing out five of its preclinical biosimilar developments. This will allow Pfizer to redirect the development’s funding to its growing late-stage programs across the firm’s other significant therapeutic areas of research.

The resolution was made after an annual Research and Development investment review, which chose to drop the biosimilar candidates.

According to Pfizer’s spokesperson, Thomas Biegi, the preclinical biosimilar assets were, after all, four to eight years from being made available to patients through commercialization.

“This choice will support Pfizer’s ability to better assign its resources to cutting edge late-stage programs in ailments where patients have only a few or no treatment options, such as oncology, neurological drugs, or rare diseases,” Thomas told BioProcess International.

He further emphasized that this reduction of its pipeline does not imply Pfizer’s general commitment to biosimilars changes.

While the company’s decision will see around 150 Pfizer workers within the R&D sector lose their jobs, on the bright side, it is expected to dismiss most of these individuals through early retirement and voluntary layoffs through the end of 2018 and into early 2019.

Furthermore, both R&D groups affected by this cut were inherited during the 2015, $15 billion buyout of Hospira. In fact, this acquisition is what put Pfizer in the biosimilars business.

Innovate Ohio Project To Attract Businesses To The State

Incoming Lt Governor Jon Husted will oversee the Innovate Ohio project, a new agency that aims to entice companies to the state and create jobs. It also plans to develop high tech products to improve government efficiency, stating that those who do not adapt to technological changes will fall behind. It hopes to transform the government by improving customer service, saving tax dollars and moving to paperless systems with new technologies.

One of the technologies in the works is the SmartOhio Operating System, an analytics and data-sharing program for government departments. Ohio business and technology leaders will come together to develop the technologies. Private business and government collaboration will help to bring the government up to scratch on modern technological solutions to improve its services.

The project also aims to increase innovative research and enhance Ohio’s reputation as a leader in computer science. Classroom coding and technology training will be provided to students from K-12 schools to make Ohio’s citizens work-ready for the jobs of the future.

Businesses in Ohio creating technological improvements may qualify for the Ohio R&D Investment Tax Credit. The credit rate is 7% of qualifying expenditures. Contact Swanson Reed for more information or take our online eligibility test.

R&D Expenditure By Research Universities Helps Drive the Economy

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R&D by universities can help solve global challenges through a collaborative, world-class research environment. R&D is of key importance for Indiana’s economy, with the state’s three largest research universities contributing directly and indirectly to all 92 counties. Indiana University, Purdue University and the University of Notre Dame are all ranked in the top 150 universities according to the Times World University Rankings. Together, they produce annual research expenditures of approximately $1.3 billion. This spending drives the economy forward and is necessary for developing advanced technology-based economies, which results in high-paying jobs. Jobs created from R&D activity include those for both university and contracted employees as well as jobs being sustained indirectly. Many US states are beginning to create economic strategies that are partially focused around their universities R&D capabilities.

Of course, Indiana’s private company R&D is also an enormous contributor to the state, with expenditure making up around $6.2 billion p.a. According to the National Science Foundation, the state ranks 17th in the US for overall R&D expenditure, 16th for research funding at public universities, 17th for research funding at private universities and 15th for industry R&D spend.

Honda R&D to Boost Ohio’s Job Count By 175

According to a recent press release by The Columbus Dispatch reports, JobsOhio and Honda R&D Americas, Inc. announced a grant partnership intended to support and promote a growing, high tech workforce at the company’s Ohio Center in Union County.

This scheduled expansion is projected to create around 175 new high tech jobs. Contacts at the Ohio Center (which is also Honda’s 2nd largest Research and Development Center in the world) have been trusted with the task of crafting the advanced technologies, Powersports, and automobile products that can bring value to the clients of Acura and Honda in North America and beyond.

Frank Paluch, the president of Honda R&D Americas said in the news release, “We have been building our team of innovative Honda engineers in the state of Ohio for more than three decades.” “And as Honda takes on these new challenges to meet the future needs of our clients, we continue to fashion a next-generation labor force through investing in our communities, our operations, and our associates to promote the growing high tech presence here in Raymond, Ohio”.

JobsOhio will assist the operation with a JobsOhio R&D Center Grant, a $1.2 Million Workforce Grant, and JobsOhio’s Talent Acquisition services.

JobsOhio’s senior managing director for automotive, Kristi Tanner pointed out that “Honda R&D America’s investment in Raymond, Ohio is an imperative step forward in building the next generation of mobility.”

She was glad Honda decided to work on its cutting-edge innovations at the State Capital, where they can also partner with other firms including 33 Smart Mobility Corridor, Connected Marysville, and TRC.

Through advancing its human interface and driver assisted systems, Honda R&D Americas will finally introduce highly automated driving capabilities and bring us a step closer to a collision-free society. In addition, this new goal builds upon the earlier broadcasted plans for Acura and Honda Vehicles to feature highly automated freeway driving abilities by 2020.

Seed Innovation Crucial For Future Food Production

Seed innovation can result in better food production from the same amount of land while also helping to tackle global sustainability and health issues. With an estimated population of 9 billion people by 2050, sustainability and increased yield are crucial goals for agricultural R&D projects. Crop improvements can benefit the environment through decreased energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, irrigation, soil erosion and land use.

Increased knowledge in plant genomics and bioinformatics is allowing for advanced plant breeding and crop improvement. Innovations include pest and disease solutions, increased plant tolerance to particular environments, higher yields and higher quality crops. Drought and flood resistant crops are in strong demand, with farmers experiencing the enhanced effects from global warming.

Furthermore, consumers are favouring fewer chemicals, more nutrition, fresher fruit and vegetables and a longer shelf life. Longer shelf life results in less waste, the retention of more nutritional content and better tasting food. Examples of seed innovation that you may be familiar with include seedless watermelon, baby broccoli, snack-sized peppers and tear-less onions.

The development of new varieties of plants involves a lot of work, requiring breeding, seed selection, trials, land, facilities and more. The project can cost around a million dollars a year and often takes between seven to ten years. To make the investment worthwhile, many breeders are applying for intellectual property rights for their innovations.

If your company is participating in seed innovation, you are likely eligible for the R&D tax credit, which can reduce your tax bill. Contact us for an eligibility assessment.

Harris Corp To Invest $125 million in R&D

Global defense and aerospace firm, Harris Corp, has in the past fixated its services on communication services for the United States military, but this year, it has decided to broaden its services horizon through a multi-million dollar investment.

Harris Corporation announced on Dec 10, 2018, that it plans on bringing around $125 million in internal research and development (R&D) to Florida this financial year. The firm’s R&D activities will chiefly take place at its central Florida branches, where Farris Corp is based, and pay attention to areas like avionics, electronic warfare, small satellites and robotics. The state will receive more than a third of the firm’s total $300 million+ internal R&D budget.

Harris Corp’s Florida presence will also be supplemented by its lately publicized plan to merge with L3 Technologies. L3 Harris Technologies (the newly combined firm) will have its headquarters in Melbourne, Florida. This will result in investment growth and create additional employment opportunities in the state.

The Internal R&D will support the firm’s 7,000+ staff based in Florida, including more than 3,300 scientists and engineers. The $125 million investment will also generate higher paying jobs that will pay an annual average salary of $95,000.

Harris Corp did not disclose the number of jobs the R&D investment will generate, but the firm currently has around 375 job openings in Florida; most of them being in engineering. This big monetary commitment will also nurture partnerships with universities and companies that Harris works with to fulfill the hundreds of contracts it secures each year.

Some of the institutions Harris has partnered with include Florida Institute of Technology, University of South Florida, University of Central Florida and the University of Florida.

In the meantime, Harris Corp has already ventured into the small satellite industry. On Dec 6, 2018, the firm launched its 1st backpack-sized satellite into space utilizing India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.

Kennedy And Bresciani: Invest In An Innovative Economy

Digitally connectivity and innovation backed by research and development (R&D) are the two crucial aspects that make an economy diversified along with its ability to generate abundant opportunities for citizens. The state of North Dakota, though a pioneer in digital infrastructure and broadband access, lacks sufficient value for research. Therefore, the presidents of University of North Dakota (UND) and North Dakota State University (NDSU), Mark Kennedy and Dean Bresciani respectively, conducted a state-wide tour with their proposal to invest 25 million USD in supporting research at the universities.

North Dakota ranks mostly among the top-ten US states when measured on the New Economy Index. For example, as per the research by Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, in 2018, the state ranked 9th in its implementation of the digital economy and business start-ups, 10th in health IT and 12th in online agriculture. The leading institutions of higher education in North Dakota, NDSU and UND, contribute greatly to these areas along with the fresh wave of proficient graduates and capable workforce every year.

However, the ranking of North Dakota in terms of R&D warrants urgent attention. The state ranks 36th in the context of industry investment in R&D, 41st in high tech jobs and 36th in scientists and engineers. Likewise, the ranking regarding the generation of patents, venture capital, and Initial Public Offerings is also apprehensive. Both UND and NDSU have yet to exploit their full research potential. This justifies the need to invest considerably in R&D at North Dakota’s higher institutions, in general, and UND and NDSU, in particular, in order to make key industries and sectors such as energy and agriculture robust and the state’s economy diversified and resilient.

It can be safely assumed that the proposed state investment of $250 million at NDSU and UND can bring about long term positive economic impact on the State and Private Sector through several means counting, but not restricted to; economic diversification, enhanced production factors, and the growth of new markets.

UGA Ranks First For Commercial Products To Market

In a survey conducted by The Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM), the University of Georgia (UGA) has been ranked first out of 193 US institutions for the number of commercial products to make it to market in 2017. It also ranked 4th for the number of new intellectual property licenses to industry.

UGA released 52 new products last year, with 175 companies built on UGA research and 1,300 jobs created through research innovation. In second place, the University of Michigan released 37.

The University has developed strategies like expanding their partnerships with industry in order to encourage an innovative culture and create research-based products. Much of the income from licensing new products goes back into internal grant funding initiatives. In the last five years, R&D expenditure has increased by 29 percent to $455 million, increasing UGA’s ranking from 64 to 53.

Products developed included new plant varieties, a poultry vaccine and soil remediation products.

Wichita State University’s Innovation Campus Opens Opportunities in Aerospace Manufacturing

Did you know that Wichita has the highest concentration of aerospace manufacturing in the United States? It is ranked first for industry-funded aerospace R&D, at $31 million, and 4th in total aerospace R&D expenditure at $45 million.

The Innovation Campus at Wichita State University (WSU) is attracting leading global companies to the area, which is opening up even more opportunities for aerospace manufacturing. Airbus Engineering and Dassault Systèmes have partnered with WSU and are making use of their facilities such as research labs and collaboration rooms. It is a great opportunity for collaboration between researchers and industry. It allows students to work on real-world projects and helps them to transition into the workforce by training them for future advanced manufacturing and other new jobs.

The first student-run project involved developing an unmanned search-and-rescue aerial system. The team aimed high, and wanted to reduce the average production cycle (i.e. from idea to working prototype) from 2-5 years to just 90 days. The team delivered the product in nine months, which was still a great improvement over the average production timespan.

Digital testing is an important part of the innovation process, involving processes such as simulation and advanced Finite Element Analysis. It is estimated that for every dollar spent on digital testing, seven dollars are saved on physical testing. The 3DEXPERIENCE Centre on the Innovation Campus focuses on increasing the speed of virtual product development and innovation with 3D design software, digital mock-ups and produce lifecycle management solutions. It will be exciting to see the new aerospace developments that come out of WSU in the near future.

Ed Kaplan Innovation Center Opens At Illinois Institute of Technology

The Illinois Institute of Technology recently opened the Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship, a 70,000 square foot innovation center. The center uses innovative materials to control energy usage and bring sunlight into the building. For instance, ETFE foil weighs only one percent as much as glass and helps reduce solar heat. Furthermore, the flat roof is ideal for solar panels, which will hopefully be added in the future.

The architect, John Ronan, referred to the Institute as “an idea factory, a place of creative collision… where new ideas are explored and tested on their way to becoming meaningful innovations.”

The $37 million center will be used by engineering students to collaborate with businesses on R&D projects. This collaboration between industry and universities is critical to achieving greater innovation and commercialization. Projects will range from electric vehicles to the Internet of Things, with a specific focus on clean energy technology. Inside, there are classrooms, exhibition spaces and areas for prototyping and fabrication.

Project leader, Howard Tullman, said that one of the problems they aim to solve is the ‘last-mile problem,’ by finding a zero-carbon footprint transportation solution for short trips, such as autonomous electric vehicles.

There are already 100 graduate students using the building. The center will aim to teach students innovative techniques and will provide management skills to encourage entrepreneurship. This will also help graduates increase their pay at higher executive levels.

Illinois has been focusing heavily on clean energy for the past few years. The 2016 Future Energy Jobs Act and Illinois Power Agency’s plan to increase its reliance on renewables have sparked a wave of action by local businesses and institutions.

The building will be fully functional by January.