Biolabs Summit Focuses on Expanding Biotech on North Shore
IPSWICH, MA — New England Biolabs, in collaboration with Rep. Kristin Kassner and BioConnects New England, hosted the North Shore Community Leadership Summit on its Ipswich campus earlier this month.
The event brought together more than 75 community leaders, officials, educators, and industry partners from across the region to engage in a conversation focused on expanding biotechnology and building pathways into biotechnology careers on the North Shore.
“A key part of planning for our future is bringing people together to learn from one another, to see what’s possible, to understand where our work intersects, and to identify opportunities to enrich, protect, and strengthen our communities and our region,” Kassner said in her opening remarks.
“This is the work that sparks new ideas, new collaborations, and new opportunities,” she added.
Global leader
Zenobia Moochhala, undersecretary of business strategies at the state’s Executive Office of Economic Development, said the commonwealth’s global leadership position in biotech is critical.
Massachusetts is recognized as a global leader in biotechnology, with Worcester and Cambridge leading the way as two top-rated life science cities. North Shore leaders believe this region is also well-positioned to play a larger role in the industry’s future.
However, some worry there are currently barriers for those hoping to find a way into the industry.
“Most people don’t know how to enter the life sciences industry, and that’s a problem. We want to make these careers accessible to everyone,” said Jared Auclair, dean of the College of Professional Studies at Northeastern University and co-lead of BioConnects New England.
Auclair said he hopes to make this access possible by starting essential conversations and building confidence in people who want to work in the biotech industry.
‘Uniquely positioned’
The summit featured a panel discussion that explored why the North Shore is poised for growth, how the region can build the workforce and training systems it needs, and the range of opportunities ahead.
Dr. John Doyle, senior director of the Academy at Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute, said the North Shore is “uniquely positioned to align workforce development, higher education, and industry partners in creating an articulated pathway that removes barriers and provides underserved young adults with a seamless transition into college and career opportunities.”
He also stressed the importance of providing “wrap-around support,” including tools needed for basic day-to-day functions, such as food and housing.
Preparing communities
Salvatore Russello, CEO of New England Biolabs, said that while most New Englanders are aware of the biotech industry and its work, there is still much for them to learn.
“If we take a big step back, there is a lot of skepticism about biotechnology,” he said. “Scientists generally have a difficult time talking about their day-to-day work, but here at New England BioLabs, we think a lot about how to demystify this work for the public, especially young kids.”
Russello stressed the importance of a holistic approach, explaining that if children are exposed to life sciences and the inner workings at a young age, then their interest may continue to grow into adulthood and lead to career opportunities.
He believes that education and open communication are essential first steps to expanding the life science industry on the North Shore.
Removing barriers
Chris Isley, president and CEO of Innoventure Labs in Beverly, added that while the North Shore has many resources to expand biotech in the region, they too often “remain siloed.”
“Our opportunity is to remove those barriers and better connect organizations focused on innovation, education, workforce development, economic development, and community growth so we can fully capitalize on this moment,” he said.
“It’s all here, and that’s the point,” Kassner said. “We know some communities are ready, but others haven’t had those conversations yet. We want to ensure that any biotech development on the North Shore continues to be thoughtful, transparent, and aligned with the towns’ goals, and having more of these conversations, and pursuing more of these collaborations, will make that possible.”
“There is a next chapter for these areas,” she added, “and we need to ask: what’s next? And how can we prepare for it?”
