Contact: Scott Sloat, Department of Economic Development, 240-777-2015

For Immediate Release: January 11, 2002

County Officials Help Qiagen Sciences
Open New Research and Manufacturing Facility

County Executive Douglas M. Duncan was joined by other officials and Qiagen Sciences officials today to open the doors to its new research and manufacturing complex in Germantown, MD, joining a number of other prestigious international biotech companies that have established operations in Montgomery County. The 190,000 square-foot campus facility will also serve as the company's North American headquarters and house more than 300 employees.

"This opening is an important step for both Qiagen and Montgomery County," said Duncan. "It establishes a base for Qiagen's North American operations and strengthens the County's position as a major center for international biotech firms."

Qiagen manufactures products for the separation, purification and handling of nucleic acids used in research by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Many of its customers are located in Montgomery County - a big reason why the company decided to locate there.

"We chose Montgomery County for our U.S. headquarters because it allows us to be close to our customers and provides an excellent environment for expanding our research and development program," said Michael W. Burgett, vice president and general manager of the Germantown headquarters. "Montgomery County also has a large commercial and academic biotechnology component which is very attractive to us."

Montgomery County long ago established itself as one of the preeminent locations for the biotech industry. The industry has grown into an interrelated cluster of 22 federal institutes and agencies, more than 200 biotech companies, several colleges and universities and dozens of supporting firms.

"The industry accounts for nearly 35,000 jobs and represents the foundation of our County's future growth," Duncan said. Increasingly that growth is coming from international companies. In addition to Qiagen, Genetic Therapy of Switzerland, Japan's Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, Shire of the United Kingdom and ExonHit Therapeutics of France have operations in the county.

County and Maryland officials have worked closely with Qiagen over the past two years, first in analyzing the county's benefits, and then during construction of the facility.

"Qiagen could have chosen to locate anywhere within the U.S., but our highly educated workforce, reputation as a biotechnology hub and the proximity of top rate academic institutions won the day, " said Duncan. "Still it required a collaborative effort. The County Council and our business, state and community leaders all worked together to make the case for Montgomery County and extend a welcome mat to Qiagen."