The greater Boston area, primarily Boston and Cambridge, is home to over 1,000 biotechnology companies, ranging from small start-ups to billion-dollar pharmaceutical companies. The high concentration of top universities in the area give the region an unparalleled network of scientists. The Kendall Square area of Boston holds a large concentration of the life science industry, totaling over 120 companies within a mile, and has been described as the "center of the nation’s biotechnology industry".