The bioscience industry in Iowa outpaced the national bioscience growth average as the economy began to enter the recession, according to the 2011 Bioscience Strategy Update for Iowa released Thursday.

The study, released by Innovate Iowa, the Battelle Technology Partnership Practice and Gov. Terry Branstad, found that the natural bioscience sector increased its job base by 4.5 percent in Iowa in 2007 and 2008. That compared with 1.4 percent nationwide.

The findings of the 2011 report show that the state has four key technology platforms that show significant strengths for economic growth and job creation.

The platforms are bioeconomy, or the use biomass as feedstocks for industrial products; leveraging expertise from state universities and the U.S. Department of Agriculture for fighting infectious diseases; personalized medicine; and advanced food products.

The report lays out strategies to achieve the state’s vision, including aggressive investment in bioscience research and development with incentives to commercialize bioscience, developing a bioscience talent pool and creating a supportive business climate.

To view the full report, click here.