Leading the premiere biotech and life sciences association representing 450 member companies in San Diego and Southern California.

Many have said that the biotech industry in San Diego will soon be as dominant as the defense industry has been historically. If so, San Diego will owe much to the leadership and salesmanship of Joseph Panetta, the CEO of BIOCOM, the premiere biotech trade group in the country. BIOCOM represents San Diego, the number one biotech cluster city in the country according to the Milken Institute.

Recently, Joe sat down with Dana Tennis of RetirementDNA to discuss a wide range of topics – sports and wine, to stem cells and what he would tell President Bush privately.

Q1: Joe, how did you end up in beautiful San Diego running the country’s finest biotech and life sciences trade group?

I actually came to San Diego with my family 16 years ago to run the government relations program at an early biotech company - Mycogen Corp. We sold Mycogen to Dow Chemical in 1998, and the following year the BIOCOM Board asked me to come to the association in the newly created position of President and CEO.

Q2: What do you think was the seminal event for the biotech industry here in San Diego?

The truly seminal event was the establishment of UCSD as a science research university in the 1960s.

Q3: In a private session with President Bush, what would you tell him about the biotech and life sciences industry or what would you ask him for?

I would tell him that he is missing out on a tremendous opportunity to save lives by opposing funding of stem cell research and that he should change the policy.

Q4: Why do you feel having the Stem Cell Institute headquarters here in SD is so important? Are you willing to arm wrestle Mayor Newsom of San Francisco for the deal? We think you can take him!

First of all, it is Dick Murphy’s job to arm wrestle Mayo Newsom - and I think Dick can take him on. It would be both prestigious and opportune for our researchers to have it here.

Q5: What have you taught your children abut the biotech and life sciences industry?

My children have grown up in this industry. We came here when they were three and one-and-a-half years old. They learned that these are the most energetic and optimistic people in the world. Many of their children have been our children’s friends.

Q6: What is the single biggest obstacle to attracting biotech companies to SD?

The cost of doing business in California - it’s the highest in the country.

Q7: Should SD consider a taxpayer financed pool of capital run by professional VCs to launch companies and R&D efforts right here in SD? If we're willing to finance ballparks, why not SD companies?

Companies belong away from government. That’s why we have a free enterprise system that can take risks that other countries don’t allow. I think we should continue to work to attract more VC firms and investment globally to San Diego.

Q8: Tell us about some of the great work BIOCOM is doing to be a catalyst for science in schools?

Well, we have a scholarship fund - five scholarships in science for high school graduates attending a college anywhere in the U.S. We also build science labs in high schools.

Q9: When you and your wife want to escape for a romantic dinner here in town, where is your favorite place to go?

Our favorite spot for a romantic dinner is Firenze Trattoria in Rancho Santa Fe.

Q10: When you have the whole family together, where do you head for breakfast on a weekend morning?

When we have the opportunity, with our daughter home from college, we head to the Original Pancake House in Rancho.

Q11: Favorite place to run and think?

The stretch of beach between Del Mar and Torrey Pines State Beach.

Q12: We know you’re an opera fan? Is there a connection between the arts and the sciences for you? How important are the arts in your recruiting efforts?

Creative people are always supportive of the arts, and biotech is an industry of creativity. The growth of the arts in San Diego has been a huge plus in the recruitment of employees.

Q13: Should SD have more professional sports teams in town? And is it important from a recruiting standpoint?

It’s important to keep professional football and baseball here from a recruiting standpoint, and as much for the economy. Basketball and hockey would be nice, but I don’t think it would be a boost from a recruiting standpoint.

Q14: Do we need a strong Mayoral structure here in SD?

Yes. We were living in the past with the old governmental structure. The mayor needs to be given responsibility and held accountable- which is what we now have.

Q15: If you were Mayor for one month and had unilateral authority to make changes that would stick, what would be your top three initiatives?

1. Revamp the retirement system - it’s ridiculous the benefits they have.
2. Fluoridate the drinking water - it's also ridiculous that we're the only major city without fluoride in the drinking water.
3. Make the City Attorney accountable to the Mayor.

Q16: What is the Panetta signature dish to prepare? What wine would you pour and what music would be playing during dinner?

That’s easy - it’s fresh pasta with Bolognese sauce, accompanied by a good Tuscan Sangiovese, with Andrea Bocelli playing.

Thanks, Joe.