By Hannah Green
Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives (MBI) is calling on state officials to designate Central Massachusetts as a “Biomanufacturing Hub” and help the region to compete against those in other states.
The nonprofit released a regional biomanufacturing strategy on Tuesday. MBI wants to see the state get involved in such areas as building regional talent and incentivizing large-scale biomanufacturing in Central Massachusetts.
MBI operates the longest-running life sciences incubator in Massachusetts. More recently, it has emerged as a leader in the effort to develop a biomanufacturing cluster in Central Massachusetts. Since 2000, the nonprofit says it has incubated nearly 200 companies.
Central Massachusetts is competing against such places as North Carolina and Georgia on biomanufacturing, the report says. But MBI believes the ability to place biomanufacturing sites within driving distance of research and development efforts in Boston is a strength for the region.
“Worcester has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to establish itself as a global biomanufacturing hub. Located less than an hour west of Boston, the region has become a magnet for top talent, has land available, can offer a lower cost of doing business, and is home to a multitude of higher education and hospital institutions to support the industry,” Jon Weaver, president and CEO of MBI, argued in the report’s announcement.
Worcester has become a national biotech hub in its own right outside of Greater Boston. At MassBio’s State of Possible Conference earlier this year, Gov. Maura Healey noted that while Greater Boston continues to be the No. 1 life sciences cluster in the country, Worcester itself is ranked 15th.
During the event, Congressman Jake Auchincloss called for a biomanufacturing focus on the federal level. He said the federal government should put forward a Chips 2.0, this time focused on biomanufacturing rather than semiconductors.
Breaking down MBI’s plan
MBI wants to see more statewide collaboration in building a biomanufacturing hub. That includes working together with the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, MassCEC and other groups, as well as the Executive Office of Economic Development.
The nonprofit also wants to see more funding go toward workforce development.
MBI wants to expand its existing Biomanufacturing Workforce Initiative and Workforce Challenge Grants.
It also sees the need for new centers to support startups and workforce development. MBI called for creating a Regional Workforce Training Center, which it estimates could cost $10 million per site, to be used by multiple biomanufacturing training providers to reduce the costs for these organizations.
MBI also recommended creating a Bioindustrial Manufacturing Process Improvement Center, also for around $10 million, which could help startups transition from research to manufacturing. This could be established through MBI and a university partner.
The nonprofit also wants to see the reinstatement of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center’s seed fund, which supported startups from Gateway Cities.
MBI also thinks more could be done to move companies into facilities more quickly. Support in this area could include expedited permitting and incentives to spur more speculative lab and manufacturing development in Central Massachusetts.