Those inside the algae industry have known for some time that San Diego is a focus for research and commercialization efforts. Now the area’s algae cluster is big enough to get some attention from mainstream business media.
A Businessweek article from October 11, “Algae Are a Growing Part of San Diego’s Appeal,” goes into fantastic detail about what is making the city so attractive to scientists and entrepreneurs that are using algae as a sustainable solution to our food, fuel and water-use challenges. Among the interesting tidbits is a short breakdown of the economic impact of the algae industry in the region:
“Algal biofuels research generated $80.9 million in economic activity in the region last year and employed 466, up from 215 in 2009, according to a study (pdf) from the San Diego Association of Governments.”
So algae-related employment in San Diego doubled in just a couple of years. We can’t wait to check back in 2014.
Read the full article about what makes a good algae industry hub at Businessweek.
