With over 242,000 Californians directly employed by the life sciences sector, the State boasts the largest biotech workforce in the nation, generating nearly $259 billion in economic activity for California. Southern California, in particular, has evolved into one of the world’s largest life science hubs. The region has more than 1,100 life sciences companies and more than 80 independent and university affiliated research institutes. With one of the highest concentration of biotech companies, academic research institutions and talented labor forces in the world, SoCal is a major driver of global life sciences research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization.