Maryland’s Indian American Lt. Governor Aruna K. Miller promoted the state as a national hub for life sciences at the BIO International Convention, the world’s largest biotech industry event, in Boston, MA, this week.
She led a Maryland delegation including members of the Department of Commerce to the event, bringing together leaders from more than 60 countries across the global biotechnology ecosystem, according to a news release from her office.
The participants included biopharma companies, academic institutions, startups, investors, and government officials—to share insights, build partnerships, and showcase innovation.
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Maryland was among the most well-represented states at the convention as Miller and Commerce Secretary Harry Coker, Jr., were joined by County Executives Marc Elrich and Jessica Fitzwater, Maryland Tech Council CEO Kelly Schulz, a delegation of 15 Maryland-based life sciences startup companies, and several other public and private sector leaders.
“Maryland is America’s biotech frontier,” said Miller. “This week we were proud to showcase why 5,000 life science companies call our state home and why Maryland is a place where potential meets performance, and innovation meets mission. With one of the most robust pipelines for STEM talent in the country and unmatched assets like our universities and life sciences sector, we’re not just keeping pace, we’re setting the standard.”
“Maryland’s life sciences assets are unparalleled, from our highly skilled workforce to our research infrastructure to our thriving community of private companies,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Harry Coker, Jr. “We were very pleased to use this conference to show the world why Maryland is a global biotech leader and a great place to do business, as well as a wonderful place to live and raise families. Biotech companies from all over the world should be considering Maryland as they grow.”
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Maryland Biotech Industry by the Numbers:
- The state’s life sciences establishments support a workforce of nearly 54,000 employees, generate $41.9 billion in economic activity, and are awarded over $2 billion in federal contracts annually.
- Maryland is home to 74 federal laboratories, more than twice as many as any other state.
- Maryland, as part of the Capitol Region (including DC and VA), is the third largest life sciences cluster in the U.S.
- Maryland has the fifth-highest concentration of employed doctoral scientists and engineers, with fifth place rankings for total PhD scientists, as well as fifth in PhDs in biological sciences and health.