NEW BIOSCIENCE JOBS FOR MONTGOMERY COUNTY

GOVERNOR O’MALLEY ANNOUNCES 90 NEW BIOSCIENCE JOBS FOR MONTGOMERY COUNTY WITH QIAGEN EXPANSION
QIAGEN will expand Montgomery County campus by more than 100,000 square feet

ANNAPOLIS, MD (April 15, 2010) - Governor Martin O’Malley today announced that QIAGEN Inc., is expanding its North American headquarters in Germantown, Md., and adding at least 90 new fulltime jobs by 2015. QIAGEN will add 117,000 square feet of new manufacturing space and new office space to its corporate campus. The company expects to invest approximately $52 million in the project.

“QIAGEN’s commitment to invest and expand in Maryland reaffirms the State’s position as one of the world’s leading locations for biotechnology innovation,” said Governor O’Malley. “Building on our Bio 2020 initiative, Maryland continues to foster a supportive environment for innovative biotech companies like QIAGEN to ensure that we are well positioned for tomorrow’s economy. Maryland’s biotechnology and life sciences companies develop cutting-edge therapies and diagnostics that have positive implications for individuals here at home and across the globe.”

“We are experiencing rapid growth of our global business, and are pleased to expand our operations and employee base here in Maryland, a region that is an epicenter of bioscience and genomics research, discovery, manufacturing and commercialization,” said Sean Augerson, QIAGEN’s Senior Director of North American Operations. “We appreciate that state and county leadership is focused on not only attracting new bioscience companies to the region, but also to fostering the growth of companies established in this region such as QIAGEN by enabling physical facilities expansions.” Groundbreaking is anticipated in Fall 2010, with completion expected in 2012 – increasing square footage at the Germantown campus from 230,000 currently to 347,000 square feet at completion.

To assist with project costs, the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED) provided a $700,000 conditional loan through the Maryland Economic Development Assistance Authority and Fund (MEDAAF). In addition, Montgomery County provided a $300,000 grant under the Montgomery County Economic Development Fund. The company is also eligible for the State’s job creation tax credit, as well as local property tax credits and workforce and training programs. As a condition of the State’s loan, QIAGEN, which currently employs 580 individuals in Montgomery County and nearly 700 employees state-wide, will add the 90 new jobs here over the next five years. Overall, the company currently employs 1,150 individuals in the U.S. and has 3,500 employees worldwide.

"We’re very pleased that QIAGEN, one of the world’s premiere biotech companies with more than $1 billion in annual revenues, is expanding in Maryland,” said Christian S. Johansson, Secretary of the Department of Business and Economic Development. “A global company, QIAGEN has more than 30 locations worldwide where expansions can be contemplated. This is another outstanding example of the successful partnerships that can occur when state and county governments leverage their resources and work together to provide new economic opportunities and new jobs to our citizens.”

“It is wonderful to see QIAGEN’s continuing commitment to growth in Montgomery County through this significant facility and workforce expansion,” said Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett. “QIAGEN has been a leader in the county’s biotech community for the past decade, and we look forward to their continued success and ongoing contributions to the global biotech industry.”

QIAGEN moved its U.S. headquarters to Montgomery County 10 years ago, when it broke ground at its current Germantown location in 2000 and opened the building in 2002. QIAGEN has made significant investments in Maryland, with its 2007 acquisition of Gaithersburg-based Digene, its 2009 acquisition of Frederick-based SABiosciences and its recently announced 2010 license agreement with Johns Hopkins University focused on biomarkers for predicting and measuring the success of cancer treatments.

The biotech sector is one of the fastest-growing business segments in the State, accounting for approximately 50,000 jobs in Maryland. Designed to attract and nurture foreign and domestic biotech companies in the region, Governor Martin O'Malley's BIO 2020 initiative – a 10-year, $1.3 billion investment in the State’s bioscience industry – represents the largest per capita investment in the biosciences made by any state in the country.

About DBED:

The Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development stimulates private investment and creates jobs by attracting new businesses, encouraging the expansion and retention of existing companies, and providing workforce training and financial assistance to Maryland companies. The Department promotes the State's many economic advantages and markets local products and services at home and abroad to spur economic development and international investment, trade and tourism. Because they are major economic generators, the Department also supports the Arts, film production, sports and other special events. For more information, visit www.choosemaryland.org.

About the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development:

The Montgomery County Department of Economic Development is charged with implementing the County’s economic development vision of being a globally-competitive, highly-diversified and knowledge-based economy that provides for the retention and growth of existing companies, stimulates new job creation and enhances entrepreneurial opportunities for all businesses. The Department offers a broad range of programs, services, partnering opportunities and strategic financing resources to stimulate and expand the County’s business, job and tax base. To learn more, visit www.SMARTmontgomery.com.

About QIAGEN:

QIAGEN is the leading global provider of sample and assay technologies. Sample technologies are used to isolate and process DNA, RNA and proteins from biological samples such as blood or tissue. Assay technologies are used to make such isolated biomolecules visible. QIAGEN has developed and markets more than 500 sample and assay products and proprietary tests for the detection, screening and monitoring of human and veterinary diseases. The company provides its products to molecular diagnostics laboratories, academic researchers, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and applied testing customers for purposes such as forensics, animal or food testing and pharmaceutical process control. QIAGEN's assay technologies include one of the broadest panels of molecular diagnostic tests available worldwide, including a broad suite of solutions for infectious disease testing and companion diagnostics as well as the digene HPV test – a test that was developed, commercialized and manufactured in Maryland and is regarded as a “gold standard” in testing for high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of cervical cancer. QIAGEN employs more 3,500 people in over 30 locations worldwide. Further information about QIAGEN can be found at http://www.qiagen.com/. Media: please contact Shelley Ducker, QIAGEN’s Associate Director of Communications, at 240-686-7603.