Chips 2.0 for biomanufacturing, and other big ideas from MassBio conference

At the high-energy MassBio State of Possible Conference, Gov. Maura Healey took the stage with Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold 'Em” as her podium walk-up music. But Healey quickly reminded the audience: “This is not Texas. A lot of things we do differently here.”

Speakers, including state and federal legislators, at MassBio’s annual conference focused on how Massachusetts has remained a global biotech leader — despite industry headwinds and global challenges — and highlighted ways the state still needs to evolve to stay ahead. 

Bay State leadership 

The biotech industry has faced challenges over the past few years. Those included a global pandemic and geopolitical tensions that influenced public markets and the local life sciences industry. But MassBio’s speakers didn’t dwell on the darkness of the last few years. Instead, they highlighted the ways Massachusetts continues to lead, even amidst these challenges. 

Greater Boston continues to be the No. 1 life sciences cluster in the country, Healey said. Not far behind is Worcester, which is ranked 15th. 

The governor also shared that last year, the state’s biopharma R&D workforce grew by 8.5%. Biomanufacturing jobs in the Bay State were up almost 6.5% last year. Healey said this biomanufacturing growth was a rate higher than new stars in this space like North Carolina, with its cheap land and job training programs.

New ways to lead  

Healey highlighted such areas as Central Massachusetts as places of new growth for the state’s life sciences industry. As Massachusetts looks to increase its status in biomanufacturing, as Healey has previously committed, those areas could be a fertile ground for growing companies and their workforce. To compete internationally in this sector, Congressman Jake Auchincloss called for the federal government to put forward a Chips 2.0, this time focused on biomanufacturing rather than semiconductors. 

“Massachusetts can lead the way in biomanufacturing, but it's not going to happen by accident. As the governor said, it requires intentionality and focus that requires Congress to step up with the resources by investing in ourselves and in our strengths,” Auchincloss said. 

Healey said her proposed Life Sciences 3.0 would also offer new opportunists to invest in areas Massachusetts can continue to grow in, including “job opportunities, health outcomes, and regionalization.”

Sharon Cunningham, CEO and co-founder of Shorla Oncology, called for more investments in women's health. She commended the Healey administration for their focus on this area.

In February, First Lady Jill Biden was in Cambridge to announce that the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) is committing $100 million towards research and development in women’s health. Separately, earlier this month, Healey announced $2.8 million in new grants through the Women’s Health Project.

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