Patrick optimistic about luring biotech firms

Gov. Deval Patrick is hoping to lure at least a few companies to the state during the international biotechnology convention this week, he said during a conference call with reporters yesterday.

After signing the $1 billion life sciences investment bill into law Monday, Patrick, House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi, Senate President Therese Murray and other state officials flew to San Diego to tout their efforts and meet with CEOs from around the world.

"You realize we've only been here for three hours," Patrick joked when asked whether any companies at the convention have agreed to relocate to the Bay State.

The 10-year investment plan to stimulate the state's biotech sector includes $500 million for infrastructure improvements to help companies expand or move here, $250 million in tax incentives and $250 million for research grants.

Among the infrastructure projects is $12.9 million for sewer and water improvements in Framingham that are needed to accommodate Genzyme's planned expansion.

After meeting with executives from about 30 local companies to discuss strategies for pitching Massachusetts yesterday, DiMasi toured the labs at Genzyme's gene therapy center in San Diego.

"So many of the Massachusetts companies that work with us are extremely excited about this legislation and they're extremely excited about people's reaction here," DiMasi said during a phone interview with the Daily News yesterday. "Everybody is talking about us, and that's good news."

In preparation for the trip, DiMasi toured Genzyme's Framingham Technology Park facilities where he and other lawmakers spoke with CEO and President Henri Termeer last week.

The speaker said he and Patrick had not yet discussed a timeline for spending the $500 million, or which earmarks would be prioritized.

"I can't give you very specific timelines, but I can tell you there's a sense of urgency and that none of those earmarks came as a surprise," Patrick said during the conference call later in the day.

Critics have said the initiative, which Patrick announced at the 2007 BIO conference in Boston, has become bogged down by unrelated legislative earmarks including hundreds of millions of dollars for state colleges and universities, some of which have no advanced science programs.

DiMasi said he will judge the success of the $1 billion investment, which a recent report said comes as other industries struggle, by how many and what kind of jobs it creates.

The report, commissioned by Boston-based research firm Mass Insight, urges the state to focus on creating public-private partnerships to sustain the information technology, communications and defense industries, which it says are crucial to the state's economy.

"I didn't read the report, but I know the governor and myself and the Senate president understand that those companies are very important to us, but we think...(the life science industry) is an area where we can rapidly grow jobs," he said. "This industry we believe, is the future for Massachusetts because we believe Massachusetts is uniquely situated in the world for these kinds of jobs in biotech."

Companies from 70 countries and 49 states are attending the conference, which started yesterday and ends Friday.

Murray said Maryland announced a $1.1 billion life sciences package yesterday, and that other states and countries have spent millions of dollars on their promotional booths in the convention hall.

"I still think that we're ahead of the game ... we've actually spent a relatively modest amount of money while we're here, but the buzz is about Massachusetts," she said during the conference call.

Patrick received the Governor of the Year Award from the Biotechnology Industry Organizations yesterday.

(Daily News staff writer Lindsey Parietti can be reached at lindsey.parietti@cnc.com.)