Battelle upgrades R&D with $200m investment

Some of the $200m investment is being used to improve the company’s biomedical research facilities by strengthening its safety and efficacy evaluation capabilities.

This initiative will see the construction of a new health and life sciences research laboratory in West Jefferson, Ohio, US, which is due to be operational in 2011.

Jeff Wadsworth, CEO of Battelle, said: “We are making these investments now to continue to advance science and accelerate our development of innovative products, services and solutions in the areas of energy, national security, and the health and life sciences. We are pleased to share our growth with Ohio by investing in the region and creating jobs​.”

Ohio has been badly hit by the economic climate, with reports claiming job losses are occurring at a greater rate than anytime since the great depression, and consequently Battelle’s investment has been well received in the state.

Battelle is predicting that its investment will create 200 science and research jobs and generate an economic output of $450m over the course of the construction.

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland said: “Critical to the success of the Ohio economy is our continued support of organizations like Battelle, which foster innovation and research as well as create the jobs that will lead us through the 21st Century​.”