Amid layoffs, Scripps says it’s committed to Jupiter

Scripps Florida in Jupiter
Scripps Florida in Jupiter

Scripps Florida laid off 14 employees, but the research institute says it is still committed to its campus location in Jupiter.

Scripps Florida occupies 350,000 square feet spread over three buildings on its 30-acre campus in Jupiter. According to its website, Scripps Florida, it has more than 600 employees. It is a division of the non-profit Scripps Research Institute based in La Jolla, California.

The non-profit research institute told the Palm Beach Post in a written statement, “We continue to be committed to our Florida campus.  In fact, we are actively recruiting new scientists to join our faculty and are optimistic about the future, as the new leadership team advances its plans for new alliances and renewed philanthropic support.”

Scripps Florida also told the newspaper that “the current reorganization aims to better serve our researchers and to make Scripps Florida a stronger institution over the long-term.”

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Government funding for research has leveled off or declined  in many scientific fields.

Led by former governor Jeb Bush, the state of Florida gave Scripps $310 million in 2003 to open its Jupiter campus, and the state expected its investment in biotechnology would catalyze the creation of 50,000 private-sector jobs in 15 years.

This spring, the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County reported that biotech jobs in the county totaled about 3,000. [Palm Beach Post] — Mike Seemuth