Biomanufacturing, specifically of large molecules, is one of the most complex types of manufacturing that exists. The challenge of scaling up living organisms combined with purifying their products to ensure safe administration to human beings creates a high-risk process technically, financially, and from a public health perspective. It is this complexity that rooted the industry in the U.S. two decades ago, spurred continued investment over the past twenty years and today plays to the country’s competitive advantages – a technologically advanced, innovative industry that requires highly skilled workers with commensurately high pay. However, in recent years, the globalization of talent, technological innovation and increased standardization, has led to greater global competition and given companies wider latitude as to where to manufacture.
In this context, the IPC is working with leadership from industry, academia and government to understand how Massachusetts, a global leader in biomanufacturing, can maintain and further its leadership and innovative capacity in this industry. In partnership with the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, IPC researchers are studying the
locational dynamics of the biomanufacturing sector (Reynolds' working paper) and how emerging technological and market trends will effect where the industry grows (presented at the Industry Studies Association, May 2011 link here). The Center hosts several meetings a year of the MA Biomanufacturing Roundtable whose participants are drawn from many of the leading biomanufacturing firms in Massachusetts as well as academic institutions in the state.
MIT has a number of initiatives in the biomanufacturing area including the Center for Biomedical Innovation BioMAN Research Program.
Elisabeth Reynolds is an advisor to the Roundtable and Professors Charlie Cooney and Richard Lester are both members.
For more information please contact:
Carol Sardo
Program Assistant
MIT Industrial Performance Center
Massachusetts Institute of Technology