Menu
2022 Session

Budget Amendments - SB30 (Committee Approved)

View Budget Item
View Budget Item amendments

Commonwealth Biotechnology and Data Sciences Initiative

Item 127 #1s

Item 127 #1s

First Year - FY2023 Second Year - FY2024
Commerce and Trade
Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority FY2023 $100,716,344 FY2024 $0 GF

Language
Page 112, line 3, strike "$44,395,623" and insert "$145,111,967".

Page 116, after line 49, insert:

"Q.1. The Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority shall convene a Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Data Science Project Review Board (the Review Board) for the express purpose of identifying regional innovation clusters in biotechnology and life sciences; biomanufacturing and drug delivery technologies; genomics and gene therapies; pharmaceutical manufacturing; and data sciences consistent with the strategies identified in the Virginia Innovation Index pursuant to §2.2-2360, Code of Virginia. The Review Board shall be comprised of three representatives of the Authority Board, two representatives of the Virginia Biosciences Health Research Corporation, two representatives of the Commonwealth Health Research Board, and two representatives of the Virginia Academy of Science Engineering and Mathematics. The Executive Director of the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation shall serve as an ex officio, non-voting, member of the Review Board.

2. Out of the appropriation in this Item, $100,716,344 from the general fund the first year shall be provided to the Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority for investments in identified regional innovation clusters, upon the affirmative recommendation of a majority of the Review Board. Prior to the award of any funds included in this Item, the Review Board shall ensure the regional innovation cluster proposals: (i) align with the growth strategies identified in the Virginia Innovation Index; (ii) facilitate partnerships among universities, private industries, and Virginia Historically Black Colleges and Universities; (iii) reduce redundancy of efforts among the regional innovation clusters in the recruitment of research faculty and staff and in the construction or improvements to any real property; (iv) maximize philanthropic and federal matching funds; and (v) enhance the efficiency of implementation of the Commonwealth's existing research commercialization strategies. Upon an affirmative vote of the majority of the members of the Review Board, the following amounts may be awarded.

a. Up to $35,000,000 the first year to the Virginia Biotechnology Research Partnership Authority to support the scale-up of a Virginia pharmaceutical research, development, and manufacturing cluster in the Greater Richmond and the Greater Petersburg MSA (the central Virginia cluster). The Virginia Biotechnology Research Partnership Authority shall award the funds as follows:

1) Of the amounts provided in paragraph Q.2.a., up to $20,000,000 the first year may be used to help fund the construction of a life sciences lab building located at the Virginia Biotech Park in the City of Richmond.  

2) Of the amounts provided in paragraph Q.2.a., up to $15,000,000 the first year may be used to administer a one-time grant program designed to fund a key starting materials pilot project located in the central Virginia cluster. At a minimum, criteria to  award the grant shall include: (i) the company is headquartered in Virginia; and (ii) the  company has a chemical industrial site to stand up the program in either the Richmond Regional Planning District or the Crater Planning District. Any funding awards shall be used for the direct costs of key starting materials reactors, a centrifuge, and a dryer.

3) As a condition of the award of any funding identified in paragraph Q.2.a., the Virginia Biotechnology Research Partnership Authority shall provide evidence, to the satisfaction of the Review Board, of a commitment of funding from private or other non-state sources of not less than a like amount of any funding awarded.

b. Up to $25,000,000 the first year to the College of William and Mary to establish the Data Science Innovation Hub and Research and Development Accelerator in southeastern Virginia (the southeastern cluster), in partnership with the Southeastern Universities Research Association, to accelerate data science research, catalyze data-driven innovation, and establish data sciences and cybersecurity-focused business in the Commonwealth. The Review Board may award the funds as follows:

1) Of the amounts provided in paragraph Q.2.b., up to $5,000,000 the first year may be used for the recruitment of  data science faculty and researchers, laboratory and support staff, and core computational operations including the procurement of computing and other specialized equipment.

2) Of the amounts provided in paragraph Q.2.b., up to $20,000,000 the first year may be used to support the planning, design, and construction of a facility that provides for commercial development and business incubation space.

3) Prior to the release of any funding for this Item, and upon the affirmative recommendation of the Review Board, the College of William and Mary shall demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the Review Board, a commitment from private or other non-state sources of not less than a like amount of any funding awarded.  

c. Up to $25,000,000 the first year to the University of Virginia to establish the UVA Institute for Biotechnology to accelerate biotechnology commercialization, genomics and gene therapies, drug delivery technologies and biomanufacturing facilities throughout Virginia (the statewide cluster). The Review Board may award the funds as follows:

1) Of the amounts provided in paragraph Q.2.c., up to $5,000,000 the first year may be used to recruit biomedical research and bioengineering faculty, laboratory and support staff, and the attraction of existing biotechnology start-up companies that lack necessary infrastructure.

2) Of the amounts provided in paragraph Q.2.c., up to $20,000,000 the first year may be used to support the planning, design, and construction of a facility that provides for up to 350,000 square feet of research, laboratory, patient care and treatment, and biomanufacturing space.

3) Prior to the release of any funding provided in paragraph Q.2.c, and upon the affirmative recommendation of the Review Board, the University of Virginia shall demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the Review Board, a commitment from private or other non-state sources of not less than ten to one.

d. Up to  $15,716,344 the first year as a grant to the City of Roanoke for the renovation of an existing facility to create advanced laboratory, business incubation and an accelerator space for the development of new biotechnology companies across southwestern Virginia (the southwestern cluster).

1) Prior to the release of any funding in this item, and upon the recommendation of the Review Board, the City of Roanoke shall cause or cause to made a matching amount of not less than $1,955,000 for the project.

3. Should the Review Board fail to recommend investments for any of the identified regional innovation clusters prior to June 15, 2023, any unawarded funds remaining in paragraph Q.2. shall revert to the general fund."



Explanation

(This amendment provides $100.7 million GF in the first year in support of a statewide initiative to establish regional innovation clusters in biotechnology, life sciences, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and data analytics through innovative public-private partnerships with Virginia institutions of higher education and existing or emerging industries.)