TFI Assists Life Sciences Initiative Select Eight Industry
Targets to Focus Efforts, Guide Investment

AUSTIN, Texas, April 15, 2003--With the wide diversity of industries in the life sciences arena and the cycle times of technology often being so quick, it's becoming increasingly important to have a system on which to focus economic development targets for the industry at the country, state, and regional level. Technology Futures, Inc. (TFI) and Washington D.C.’s New Economy Strategies have just completed a study for the Central Indiana Life Sciences Initiative that does just that.

The six-month study, "Targeting for the Future," catalogues the region’s life sciences assets and care-abouts and matches them with emerging national and international markets. The study led the group to narrow its focus to eight life sciences areas. The overall goal of the Initiative is to make Central Indiana one of the top 10 life science corridors in the country by 2007.

How the Initiative project was organized and how the results of the new study are helping establish priorities and guide future investment may be of interest to your readers involved in making decisions about their own efforts in life sciences. The importance of having a focused approach increases the efficient use of available resources and decreases the dangers of diluting resources.

According to David Smith, TFI's Vice President and lead TFI representative on the study, "We started with looking at Central Indiana as a blank sheet. We not only came up with the target areas, but also what we believe is an excellent list of must-do actions." He continues, "Indiana has now identified many of the key elements necessary to move forward with a carefully considered plan of action for the life sciences."

"The completion of this study represents the first step toward finding Central Indiana's niches within these target areas," said David Goodrich, President of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership and co-founder of the Central Indiana Life Sciences Initiative. "This region has a wealth of assets, but we needed to hone in on specific areas in order to focus our resources. This targeting research will allow us to invest shrewdly in the future of our life sciences industry." The study chose the following eight life sciences areas for focus for the Central Indiana region:

• Sports-centered life sciences is a growing market that exceeds $71 billion annually.
  
• Neurosciences. This market exceeded $59.2 billion in 2001.
  
• Cardiovascular care. The cardiovascular pharmaceuticals and devices market reaches nearly $98 billion worldwide.
• Protein analysis studies the building blocks for the human genome (proteins), which holds the key to the cure and prevention of many diseases. The global market is projected to increase to $5.6 billion by 2006.
  
• Biosensors are nano- and micro-scale components used to drive drug delivery and activate therapeutic agents in the body. This emerging market is projected to increase to $1.82 billion in 2006.
  
• Cancer. The cancer therapeutic market is expected to reach revenues of $21.4 billion by 2006 in the United States, Europe, and Japan.
  
• Evidence-based medicine deals with the growing demand for personalized medicine and the need to contain health-care costs, creating demand for a medical "service industry" that provides data and analysis. This is an as-yet unrealized need.
  
• Agri-biotech. The global market for plant biotechnology and the animal health industry exceeds $20 billion annually.

Perhaps an article on the processes and experiences of the Central Indiana Life Sciences Initiative program and the results of the recent study would be of interest to your readers. Mr. Smith, together with other Life Sciences Initiative participants, would be happy to speak with you about the Initiative and the eight targets.

Mr. Smith has been actively involved in technology management and forecasting for over 25 years. He is an internationally renowned educator, author, and consultant in technology forecasting/strategy, technology/market integration, and technology management in uncertain environments. Mr. Smith's views on technology trends have been prominently featured in Business Week and American Demographics, among other publications.

Technology Futures, Inc. helps organizations plan for the future. Drawing on proven, quantifiable forecasting methods and strategic applications correlated with our signature Five Views of the Futures™ Strategic Analysis Framework, we customize our approach to the technology, financial, and marketing issues facing our clients. Our services include consulting, research, and education.

We invite you to visit our Press Room to learn more about us. A list of many of our citations can be found at TFI News.

PRESS CONTACT:
Ms. Carrie Vanston, Media Relations Director
Los Angeles Office (323) 436-0314, cvanston@tfi.com

Please contact Ms. Carrie Vanston with any questions or to interview Mr. Smith and other Life Sciences Initiative participants. Mr. Smith and the TFI staff are also available to comment on technology trends, telecom trends, and technology forecasting principles. If you need assistance immediately and Ms. Vanston is unavailable, please contact the corporate offices in Austin at (512) 258-8898 or (800) 835-3887.

Thank you for your attention.

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Technology Futures, Inc.
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Austin, TX 78750
(800) 835-3887 or (512) 258-8898
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www.tfi.com