Money to finance the growth of biotechnology companies in Wisconsin is drying up.

That's what two-thirds of the state's biotech and medical device business executives say, in a survey conducted for the Wisconsin Biotechnology Index, a new quarterly measure of the industry's health by the Wisconsin Biotechnology & Medical Device Association and WisBusiness.com.

Twenty-five percent of the 62 company officials who responded to the survey said the availability of capital is "poor," compared to 15 percent a year ago. Another 43 percent rate prospects for funding as "fair," up from 33 percent last year.

Even so, biotech leaders are optimistic about the future of their industry. Seventy-five percent describe the condition of Wisconsin's bioscience industry as "good" or "excellent" and only 6 percent said they think conditions will deteriorate over the next 12 months.