Cultivating the Next Generation of Discoveries and Development in New York
Bioscience Sector
Ms. Heather C. Briccetti, Esq., President and CEO, Business Council for New York State
ABSTRACT
New York’s bioscience industry currently supports 250,000 jobs — both direct and indirect — generating
$309 million in personal state income tax and over $5.63 billion in wages. Its R&D attracts significant
federal funding and is consistently within the top three states in terms of National Institutes of Health
research awards.
While New York is just one of several players along the bioscience continuum, it has the
capacity to strengthen or hinder company and industry growth at several points along that continuum.
Increased coordination between public policy and private investments — in effect, public-private
partnerships — is shown as a critical component of the state’s strategy to promote growth in the
bioscience sector.
Startups and early stage companies are the industry’s nexus between the university lab and the larger
market.
A better defined vision and model between government, education and industry will provide the direction
and coordination need to help New York expand this sector across the state.
BIOGRAPHY
Heather Briccetti became President & CEO of The Business Council in January 2012. Heather joined us
in 2007 when she was named vice president of government affairs. In this position, she worked to drive
the organization’s pro-jobs agenda.
Prior to joining The Business Council, Briccetti was a consultant and lobbyist for Powers and Company,
where she advised clients on a range of state and federal government relation issues. While she was
there, Briccetti finished the Javits Center expansion and the new Yankee Stadium park. Before joining
Powers and Company, Briccetti served as an assistant counsel to the New York State Senate Majority,
working on a range of issues, including economic development, budget reform and consumer protection.
She also worked for the Assembly Majority for several years, serving as a legislative aide and counsel to
the Racing and Wagering Committee.
Additionally, Briccetti served as special counsel in the state Attorney General’s office, where her
responsibilities included coordinating activities between the bureaus in the Attorney General’s office and
the state Legislature and Governor’s office.
She also worked in private practice as one of the founding partners of a law firm, and as chief public
defender in Rensselaer County, being the first female appointed to that position.
Briccetti was recently appointed by Governor Andrew Cuomo to serve on the Chairman’s Committee for
the Regional Economic Development Councils and the High-Volume Hydraulic Fracturing Advisory Panel.