A Tale in Three Parts: The Success of California’s Life Science Clusters

Abstract

With the seventh largest GDP in the world, California has the economic heft of a country. One of the largest drivers of economic growth in California is the life science industry. In fact, it is a cornerstone of California’s innovation ecosystem, and is characterized by three distinct geographical clusters. There’s San Diego’s entrepreneurial energy, Los Angeles’ emerging incubators and the Bay Area’s unique tech influence. All of these clusters drive growth and distinct opportunities for institutes, universities, businesses and entrepreneurs.

This article focuses on: how did California become a life science powerhouse, and what do each of these regions have to offer to the industry?