Buffalo, NY – August 7, 2024 – Norgen Biotek, a Canadian biotechnology company, is expanding operations in Buffalo, New York, with a $5 million investment to establish a new manufacturing facility in Niagara Falls and an R&D presence at UB’s Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences (CBLS) on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.
“Our region is home to a rapidly growing network of life science companies, driven by institutions like the University at Buffalo and the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus,” said Tom Kucharski, President and CEO of Invest Buffalo Niagara. “This project perfectly aligns with the strengths of our region – a strategic binational location, a legacy of advanced manufacturing, and a booming life and health sciences sector.”
The new 2,800-square-foot manufacturing facility located in Niagara Falls, NY will be used for the production and distribution of sample preparation and preservation kits, as well as diagnostic kits. The 600-square-foot lab and office space located at CBLS (701 Ellicott Street) will be used primarily for research and development of next generation sequencing and nucleic acid isolation processes in collaboration with CBLS’ Genomics and Bioinformatics Core facility.
“It was very logical for us to select a market where we are able to integrate into an already-existing dynamic life sciences community,” said Dr Yousef Haj Ahmad, CEO of Norgen Biotek. “This strategic move enables us to utilize the region’s robust workforce, collaborate with life sciences experts and streamline production due to Buffalo’s prime location.”
“This expansion highlights UB’s significant role in facilitating innovative and collaborative partnerships between academia, the life science industry and the public sector, with a goal to encourage technology-based scientific discoveries and create economic impact,” says Venu Govindaraju, UB vice president for research and economic development.
With a mission to accelerate the path from discovery to commercialization, CBLS provides life and health sciences companies with research support, mentorship programs, wet labs, office space, shared equipment, funding sources, access to student talent and networking connections. The CBLS is one of 15 centers funded by Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR), whose mission is to promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new job and economic opportunities, increase revenues to the State and its municipalities, and achieve stable and diversified local economies.
“Through economic development programs and incentives supported by Empire State Development, NYSTAR, and UB’s vast faculty and student talent, we look forward to providing support to Norgen Biotek’s expansion and job creation in Western New York,” adds Ben Verschueren, executive director of NYSTAR.
Buffalo is home to 21 colleges and universities and several life sciences organizations, including the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and Thermo Fisher Scientific. Buffalo ranks fourth in the nation for the per-capita percentage of life sciences workers, with the sector comprising 2% of all employment in the area — exceeding the national average of 1.6%. Positioned along the Canadian American border, the region boasts seven international points of entry over road, rail and water.
Invest Buffalo Niagara and UB assisted Norgen Biotek by facilitating its participation in the START-UP NY program, which offers new and expanding businesses the opportunity to operate tax-free for ten years on or near eligible university or college campuses in New York State. The incentive provides companies with direct access to advanced research laboratories, development resources, and experts in key industries through its partnership with local academic institutions.
About Invest Buffalo Niagara:
Invest Buffalo Niagara is the area’s leading private sector economic development and business attraction organization, focused on research, marketing, and business development outreach. With exceptional community connectivity, Invest Buffalo Niagara’s staff provides comprehensive services and project management for companies looking to expand or relocate. From research all the way through ribbon-cutting, Invest Buffalo Niagara is the primary point of contact for economic development in the eight-county Buffalo Niagara region. Learn more here: buffaloniagara.org.
About Norgen Biotek Corp.:
Norgen Biotek is a rapidly growing privately held Canadian biotech company committed to providing innovative products and services to the life sciences and pharmaceutical industry. Norgen has developed technologies and products for the purification of nucleic acids and proteins on both preparative and industrial scales, including ready-to-use chromatography resins and pre-packed chromatography columns. For more information visit: https://norgenbiotek.com/.
About UB CBLS:
University at Buffalo’s Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences helps life and health sciences businesses of all sizes grow and succeed. CBLS provides funding, access to experts, low-cost shared equipment, wet labs, student talent, connections and more to develop and improve products and technologies and fuel R&D. Learn more: https://www.buffalo.edu/partnerships/about/centers-facilities-equipment/cbls.html
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