Printed online on KSAT 12 News (6.10.10); broadcasted on evening news (6.10.10)

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A research laboratory, focused on developing major medical breakthroughs, is on its way to San Antonio.

InCube Labs will open a branch of its operations in the Alamo city by the end of the year.

City leaders made the major announcement Thursday.

"This is the spark that we're looking for -- 21st century jobs in the bioscience area with venture capital," said Mayor Julian Castro. "This puts San Antonio in a new league."

InCube's founder and CEO, Mir Imran, is also the developer of the automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator, which has become a standard in cardiovascular care.

Imran announced that he picked San Antonio over other Texas cities because of its research institutions, the military and the business community.

"We'd like to work with research institutions like UTSA, the UT Health Science Center, the Southwest Research Institute and also the military, which is really a unique medical asset you have," he said. "I think there is a good possibility in the future that we would establish a presence in Dallas. But at this point, San Antonio seemed like the best opportunity for us."

The company will create jobs with salaries ranging from $50,000 to over $200,000 which Castro said is on track with his push for higher paying jobs in the city.

"We expect 400 of them to be created over the next 10 years," said Castro. "And for other entrepreneurs to develop from these companies, that (will) cause a greater economic impact for our city."

InCube will also launch five life science companies in San Antonio: three by the end of this year and two more within three years after that, Imran said.

The companies will create about 400 jobs and will collectively spend $100 million.