Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | October 30, 2023 | Worcester Business Journal 11 F A C T B O O K can use the strong base we already have, and add in a few extra pieces." At WPI, this looks like expanding the curriculum specifically relevant to bioindustrial manufacturing career preparation so students have experience with processes and equipment. e industry will not just be open to engineering graduates, however, said Weaver. "People think of biological science as just for PhDs, but it can be an economic opportunity for everybody," he said. "With a little bit of training, it can open an entire career path." Analysis from the consortium indi- cates that the industry has the potential to create almost 9,000 new jobs in the next 10 years, with the majority being available for non-higher education degree holders, said Weaver. When the biotechnology industry took off, it created job growth of more than 100,000 positions, a figure that has steadily increased since 2015, and changed the landscape of development, employment, and real estate across Massachusetts, particularly in Boston and Cambridge. Weaver wants Worces- ter to play that kind of role in bioindus- trial manufacturing. Centralizing the efforts of all industry players in the region would leverage what Weaver called the raw materials that are needed for success. "Central Mass. has a real right to win on this. We have the foundation, we have the talent pool," he said. "If we put our flag out, we have the opportunity to lead this industry." But there is competition. Most Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facilities in the state are located within 30 miles of Boston, according to MBI. MBI and the collaboration are developing a fertile environment for the kind of growth they envision, with the hope that in five to 10 years, the harvest will mean Worcester is heading the bioindustrial manufacturing charge, There are different pathways to commercialization in bioindustrial manufacturing than biopharmaceuticals, said Ben Linville-Engler of MassTech, but the industry can leverage the talent and infrastructure between the two. Continued on next page PHOTO | WBJ FILE

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