A hub for research and design, the Bothell ultrasound division of Netherlands-based Philips manufactures approximately 80 percent of all Philips ultrasound equipment shipped worldwide according to The Everett Herald. Randy Hamlin, leader of the Point-of-Care business unit at Philips ultrasound, is shaping a new market space in diagnostic ultrasound by connecting clinicians and patients to ultrasound at every point-of-care. In 2015, Hamlin’s team introduced Lumify, the world’s first app and subscription based ultrasound solution, designed for on demand point-of-care diagnostics.

In a comment to The Everett Herald, Director of Industry and Resource Development at the Economic Alliance of Snohomish County (EASC) Matt Smith said that “[t]he state of Washington and the Bothell/I-405 corridor are national centers and a brain trust for medical ultrasound equipment.” Philips in Bothell has contributed tremendously to the economic diversification of the area, creating an industry juggernaut.

The life science and medical device sector is one of regional and state importance. In addition to its presence in Snohomish County, King County is a hub with 160 life sciences companies that employ more than 22,000 people according to the Economic Development Council. Seattle is home to world-renowned institutes including the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, PATH, the Infectious Disease Research Institute, the Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Zymo Genetics, the Allen Institute for Brain Science, the Pacific Northwest Diabetes Research Institute, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, and many more. Philips also has a close relationship with the University of Washington Medical Center, funding employees’ onsite work and research collaborations.  A world-class center for Life Sciences, the Great Seattle region is among the top 5 largest life science clusters in the country (EDC).

Ultrasound equipment ranks in the state’s top 10 exports with the ultrasonic scanning apparatus bringing in $697 million in 2016. The Life Sciences and Global Health sector of the Washington economy is responsible for $11.1 billion of the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) according to the Washington State Department of Commerce (DOC). This sector has created 34,000 direct jobs and 57,000 indirect jobs, making it the 5^th largest employment sector in the state.