life sciences
Despite bipartisan support, Massachusetts legislature fails to pass $3.5B econ dev package
On Aug. 1, Massachusetts lawmakers ended their 19-month formal session.
On Aug. 1, Massachusetts lawmakers ended their 19-month formal session. In the flurry of legislation that was passed, the Legislature failed to agree on the governor’s proposed $3.5 billion economic development package (the Mass Leads Act), which featured $2.8 billion in bond authorizations combined with tax credits and considered a top priority for both the administration and legislative leaders.
AlphaLab Health, Innovation Works and Allegheny Health Network joint venture, receives $10 million grant
AlphaLab Health, an accelerator program developed by Innovation Works (IW) and Allegheny Health Network (AHN) for life-sciences startups in the Pittsburgh region, has received a $10 million grant from an anonymous donor. The grant establishes the AlphaLab Health Revolving Investment Fund, which will support startups in the accelerator program.
Massachusetts Governor proposes over $2 billion for major initiatives in life sciences, climatetech, and AI
On March 1, Massachusetts Gov.
Useful Stats: SSTI analysis reviews life science patent distribution throughout the U.S., 1998-2020
It appears that innovation is contagious. Maps reveal that once there is a concentration of patents granted to inventors in one U.S. county, innovation starts to percolate in neighboring counties. And the phenomenon isn’t found only in established life sciences hubs like San Diego or Boston. SSTI observed this spillover effect in Washtenaw County, Michigan and Hennepin County, Minnesota, among other places. These data suggest that when a strong base is located, likely due to new companies and startups establishing themselves, innovation lays down its roots and spreads to other counties.
MA life sciences workforce grows 131 percent, recommendations outlined to continue momentum
Moving away from four-year degree programs and toward apprenticeships is one of the recommendations to help ease the workforce shortage experience in the life sciences industry. This and other recommendations are part of a recently released report from the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, also known as MassBio, on workforce trends in the life sciences industry in Massachusetts.
Recent Research: Beyond economic development, local life science R&D saves local lives
Faculty of the nation’s higher education institutions have long used research publications and citations as a measure of success. A new working paper posted by the National Bureau of Economic Researchers (NBER) suggests a select group of research publications may do more than gain the authors tenure and celebrity in their chosen field: these works are correlated with reductions in local disease-related mortality.
Life science industry proves resilient after difficult year
Helping to meet the challenge of fighting a global pandemic while growing high-quality jobs during an economic downturn, the life sciences industry showed its strength over the course of the past year. An update to the biennial Life Science Workforce Trends report from the Coalition of State Bioscience Institutes (CSBI) asserts that it is because of the industry’s skilled-talent base and sets out to assess the industry’s position and priorities in 2021, focusing on its demands for workforce and talent.
NYC investing $1B in life sciences
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced that the city is planning to double its $500 million investment in the LifeSci NYC commitment, to reach a total of $1 billion invested in life sciences over the next 10 years.