Editorial Box Score: 27,600

That's the number of biomedical engineers expected to be employed in this country by 2018, up 72 percent from 16,000 in 2008. And biotech is a key to Long Island's future.

That's just one reason why Hofstra University is right to be bullish about its new School of Engineering and Applied Science, which it expects to open next year, after hiring a dean. And Hofstra is wise to plan on linking those students with local firms as they study. That might help keep them here when they graduate -- and slow the Island's brain drain.