The scientific ecosystem of the life of Delaware includes pharmaceutical and biotechnological companies, instrumentation companies, medical and diagnostic devices, research, development and manufacturing companies, agricultural biotechnology research institutes, hospitals and academics, and a range of essential commercial service providers.
The significant recent growth in the sector has been fueled by the training of new businesses, strategic investments in key sites and facilities and the expansion of the main world employers. Today, the life sciences represent directly more than 12,000 jobs in all areas of research and development, manufacturing, medical devices, biotechnology and pharmaceutical production, with thousands of other high -value jobs in construction, industrial services, law, accounting, advice and other areas essential to the success of industry.
All this activity serves as a source of unequaled economic value and future opportunities for our state and, above all, a transformational impact on public health and countless individual lives. However, unique among industries, biomedical research, the successful development and manufacturing of products and technologies in life sciences require time, immense studies and investments over many years.
Consequently, to strengthen and accelerate this growth – and, above all, to improve the posture of Delaware in a regional and even fiercely competitive international market – it is essential that the State continues to advance a long -term visionary strategy focused on supporting dedicated scientists in Delaware which devote their life to bringing biomedical innovation to patients who need.
That’s why this week we released A complete series of political recommendations To accelerate the growth of the state flourishing life science industry and improve public health.
Developed in partnership with member companies and university research institutions, economic development organizations, government and elected officials and an in -depth assessment of best practices from across the country, the Delaware biological policy is focused on four key areas:
• Capital: trigger and attract innovation and investment of life sciences
• Talent: Transforming our STEM workforce
• Infrastructure: Improve and integrate economic development efforts and state labor
• Access: expand patient access to innovation and cost reduction
These initiatives align fully with the priorities articulated by Governor Matt Meyer and the General Assembly, in particular by investing in the education of STEMs and the quality of community life, expanding economic opportunities for all and guaranteeing access to affordable and advanced health care.
In order to strengthen our capacities in research, development and manufacturing, and with a fundamental commitment to make our state healthier, our proposals are a mixture of new ideas, adjustment to make current programs even more effective and common sense policy. When funding is recommended, we believe that changes can be made thanks to intelligent reallocation, hierarchy and more efficient targeting of current resources.
Our recommendations start with a range of initiatives to trigger More revolutionary research and partnerships between our research universities and our institutes and our activities. This will attract and keep high level talents, will feed the creation and growth of innovative startups and positions Delaware as a leader in this high -value industry.
We have also identified the ways in which Delaware can better take advantage of its unique combination of collaboration and adaptability to promote productive labor partnerships between industry, government and educational establishments.
The state’s economic development infrastructure should reflect the speed and agility required by dynamic industries such as life sciences and we suggest that external expertise can be introduced in government planning and more effective and punchy interfaces with state agencies.
In a critical way, our political program expands access to vital treatments and diagnostics and reduces unnecessary costs by: reducing costs for patients, increasing access, ensuring transparency, investing in computer health and telemedicine and promoting biotechnological solutions for preventive care.
We look forward to working with Governor Meyer and the legislators to advance these thoughtful initiatives to take advantage of and rely on the significant commitment and continuous investment of our member organizations in order to ensure a healthy and promising future for everyone in our state.
To read the Delaware biography plan, click here: https://www.delawarebio.org/page/2025-state-policy-plan
Michael Fleming is the president of Delaware Bioscience Association.