Delaware’s thriving life science ecosystem includes pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms, instrumentation, medical device and diagnostic companies, research, development and manufacturing firms, agricultural biotech, hospital and academic research institutes, and an array of essential business service providers.
The sector’s significant recent growth has been fueled by new company formation, strategic investments in key sites and facilities, and the expansion of major global employers. Today, the life sciences account directly for more than 12,000 jobs across research and development, manufacturing, medical devices, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical production, with thousands more high-value jobs in construction, industrial services, law, accounting, consulting and other fields critical to the industry’s success.
All this activity serves as a source of unrivaled economic value and future opportunity for our state and most importantly, a transformational impact on public health and countless individual lives. However, unique among industries, the biomedical research, development and successful manufacturing of life science products and technologies requires immense time, study and investment over many years.
Therefore, to fortify and accelerate this growth – and, importantly, to enhance Delaware’s posture in a fiercely competitive regional and indeed international market – it is essential the state continue to advance a visionary, long-term strategy focused on supporting the dedicated Delaware scientists who devote their lives to bringing biomedical innovation to patients in need.
That’s why this week we have released a comprehensive series of policy recommendations to accelerate the growth of the state’s thriving life science industry and improve public health.
Developed in partnership with member businesses and academic research institutions, economic development organizations, government and elected officials and extensive assessment of best-practices from across the country, the Delaware Bio policy roadmap focuses on four key areas:
• Capital: Sparking and attracting life science innovation and investment
• Talent: Transforming our STEM workforce
• Infrastructure: Enhancing and integrating state economic & workforce development efforts
• Access: Expanding patient access to innovation and reducing costs
These initiatives fully align with priorities articulated by Governor Matt Meyer and the General Assembly including investing in STEM education and community quality of life, expanding economic opportunities for all and ensuring access to affordable, state-of-the-art healthcare.
With a goal of fortifying our capabilities in research, development and manufacturing, and with a fundamental commitment to making our state healthier, our proposals are a mix of new ideas, tweaks to make current programs even more effective and common-sense policy fixes. Where funding is recommended, we believe changes can be achieved through smart reallocation, prioritization and more effective targeting of current resources.
Our recommendations start with a range of initiatives to spark more groundbreaking research and partnerships between our research universities and institutes and business. This will attract and retain top-tier talent, nurture the establishment and growth of innovative startups and position Delaware as a leader in this high-value industry.
We’ve also identified ways Delaware can better leverage its unique combination of collaboration and adaptability to foster productive workforce partnerships between industry, government, and educational institutions.
The state’s economic development infrastructure should reflect the speed and agility required by dynamic industries like the life sciences and we are suggesting ways external expertise can be brought into government planning and more efficient and impactful interfaces with state agencies.
Critically, our policy agenda expands access to life-saving treatments and diagnostics and reduces unnecessary costs by: lowering costs for patients, increasing access, ensuring transparency, investing in health IT and telemedicine and promoting biotech solutions for preventative care.
We look forward to working with Governor Meyer and legislators to advance these thoughtful initiatives to leverage and build upon the significant commitment and ongoing investment of our member organizations to ensure a healthy, promising future for everyone in our state.
To read the Delaware Bio plan click here: https://www.delawarebio.org/page/2025-state-policy-plan
Michael Fleming is the president of the Delaware BioScience Association.
