Last week, Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle announced his administration and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) had reached an agreement that would allow companies sponsoring stem cell research in Wisconsin to obtain a free, non-exclusive research license under the stem cell patents held by WARF. WARF, which manages more than 720 pending and 880 issued U.S. patents on University of Wisconsin at Madison technologies, will not charge Wisconsin research centers for licenses on its stem cell patents. The agreement is part of Gov. Doyle's plan to help the state capture 10 percent of the national stem cell market by 2015.
The WiCell Research Institute, a subsidiary of WARF and operator of the National Stem Cell Bank, offers technology licenses, stem cell lines, and training for university and private sectors researchers around the world. WiCell provides five of the 21 stem cell lines available for federal funding and maintains more than 460 academic and commercial licenses on human embryonic stem cells. Its licenses directly affect all U.S. companies and research in the field.
The agreement gives Wisconsin a competitive advantage in growing and attracting biotechnology companies over other states active in stem cell research, such as California. Wisconsin's biotech economy generates nearly $7 billion annually and employs 22,000 workers earning well above the average state income. In its announcement, the governor's administration cited predictions that the market for stem cell products could reach $10 billion, and create more than 100,000 jobs over the next 10 years. Gov. Doyle expects the measure to keep Wisconsin at the forefront of this growth.
The agreement is part of a package of incentives offered by the state of Wisconsin, which also includes: