In other moves the government has made an important policy switch with a decision to provide direct support for biotechnology research.

The Federal Government spent $2.7 billion on biotechnology research and development last year, up 19 percent from 1986, the report said.

The decision led to a two-year effort, completed in 1986, to establish an entirely new Federal regulatory program for the products of biotechnology research.

Roughly 80 percent goes into biotechnology research, mainly on vegetables.

Its location within Birmingham places it in an emerging center for biotechnology research and commerce.

That influential conference did evaluate the potential hazards and set guidelines for biotechnology research.

But this is the first major announcement of aid for the drug industry, apart from £9 million for biotechnology research last month.

It was created to provide a unified focus for Maryland's biotechnology research and education.

So does Qiagen, a company that makes products used in biotechnology research.

A biotechnology research and development center will also open at the college.