The city has been working over the last year with private developers to create a biotechnology center in an existing building.

He has held several leading positions at prominent universities and biotechnology centers.

Many patent disputes in biotechnology center on whether a certain development is obvious, which would disqualify it from a patent.

But far-sighted projects like building a biotechnology center together with Columbia University wait for 10 years or more.

Some economic development experts say that many places trying to become biotechnology centers will fail.

Carlsbad, some 15 miles to the north, has become a biotechnology center in its own right.

A $200 million biotechnology center at New York University is scheduled to open by next fall.

Mr. Abrahamson said all such programs, including the Connecticut writing project and the biotechnology center, have been heavily cut back.

"We really gutted the biotechnology center," he said.

He added that his country's biotechnology centers had nothing to hide.