Memphis’ connection to the world has made it a location of choice for medical device manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, cardiac materials and much, much more. Home to Nobel Prize-winning St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and Medical School, InMotion Musculoskeletal Institute, the Medical Education & Research Institute, FedEx Institute of Technology, and the University of Memphis, the city provides a network, not only known for its research and clinical excellence, but also for its depth of skilled technicians and internationally-recognized scientists.
Couple these tremendous assets with our central location and unparalleled distribution and logistics capabilities and it becomes clear why Memphis has a burgeoning life science and biotech community. For news and information about developments in the Memphis bioscience community, visit www.memphisbioworksnow.org.
Did you know:
- A large percentage of the World's hip and knee replacement joints are designed, manufactured and distributed by world-class companies like Smith & Nephew, Medtronic, and Wright Medical from Memphis
- Memphis is the 2nd-largest orthopedic device manufacturing center in the U.S.
- Memphis employment in the biomedical device industry has grown 50% since 1999 - more than 4 times the national growth rate.
- 1 in 7 Memphians work in the bioscience sector.
- 30% of Memphis' GMP (gross metro product) is in the city's bioscience sector.
- Four of the world's top pharmaceutical companies - GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and Schering-Plough - have major operations in Memphis.
- 110 | the percent growth between 1998 and 2003 of NIH awards to Memphis institutions
- Each year Mid-South colleges and universities award more than 30,000 degrees and certificates - 23% of which are in biosciences and engineering.
World-class Laboratory and Office Space
At the heart of the University of Tennessee medical school campus in Memphis lies the UT-Baptist Research Park. This state-of-the-art campus, in the heart of the Memphis medical community, is designed for the highly specialized needs of bio and life science companies. For more information click here.
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Leader in Medical & Orthopedic Devices
Memphis’ contributions to the orthopedic and medical device industry go back nearly a century. After founding the Campbell Clinic in 1909, Dr. Willis C. Campbell organized the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at The University of Tennessee-Memphis, established the first orthopedic residency program, and co-founded The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), serving as one of its first presidents. Dr. Campbell even wrote the first textbook on orthopedics—known as Campbell’s Operative Orthopaedics.
Today, the Campbell Clinic is recognized as a world leader in orthopedics. The AAOS will celebrate its 75th anniversary next year with Memphian and Campbell Clinic chief-of-staff Dr. James H. Beaty at the helm. Campbell’s Operative Orthopaedics - now translated into seven languages and in its 10th edition - continues to be the definitive work on orthopedics. And, Memphis has become a worldwide leader in orthopedic and spinal implants as well as the U.S.’ 2nd-largest orthopedic device manufacturing center.
Medical device companies with divisional and corporate headquarters in Memphis include: Medtronic, Smith & Nephew, Wright Medical, Symmetry Medical and NuVasive.
50 | the percent by which Memphis employment in the biomedical device industry has grown since 1999 – more than four times the national rate of growth.
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Biologistics
Within a day’s drive of two-thirds of the U.S.’ population and home to the world’s busiest cargo airport, Memphis has made a name as “America’s Distribution Center”. The alignment of these logistical advantages with a rich history as the Mid-South’s premiere medical center has brought Memphis international attention as an emerging center of bioscience development and investment.
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Low Operating Costs for Bioscience Companies
Memphis is the 5th-most inexpensive U.S. city in which to operate a biomedical company and the least expensive southeastern city (Source: Boyd Company). Bioscience companies like Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic, and Smith & Nephew have also reduced operating costs by consolidating manufacturing and distribution operations in Memphis thereby eliminating excess inventory.
Lowest industrial & warehouse lease rates of major U.S. cities
▶▶ Memphis lease rates are 25-65% lower than comparable space in cities like Atlanta, Indianapolis, St. Louis, and Los Angeles.
Abundance of distribution, warehousing & logistics facilities
▶▶ More than 150 million square feet of warehouse space with an average size for current construction of approximately 500,000 square feet (over 11 acres) per building.
▶▶ Approximately one-half Class A warehouse space suitable for biomedical products
Competitively-priced utilities
▶▶ Memphis Light Gas & Water delivers reliability, low cost, and stable rates – especially for commercial and industrial utilities
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The Right Workforce
70,000 | the number of workers employed in Memphis’ broad-based collection of bioscience industries. 1 in 7 Memphians work in the bioscience sector.
50 | the percent by which Memphis employment in the biomedical device industry has grown since 1999 – more than four times the national rate of growth.
7,000 | the annual number of Mid-South students graduating with a degree or certificate in biosciences or engineering.
» Find out more.
| Memphis area Lifescience wages |
| job Title |
low |
average |
high |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists |
$21.45 |
$44.86 |
$56.56 |
| Chemists |
17.35 |
23.15 |
26.05 |
| Biological Technicians |
11.94 |
14.98 |
16.50 |
| Chemical Technicians |
10.36 |
15.61 |
18.23 |
| Pharmacists |
30.18 |
41.84 |
47.67 |
| Medical Laboratory Technologists |
17.29 |
22.51 |
25.13 |
| Pharmacy Technicians |
8.54 |
11.97 |
14.60 |
| Registered Nurses |
18.91 |
25.45 |
28.73 |
| SOURCE: Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development 2007 |
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Biosciences
