• Resources for Life Science

  • Michigan put the world on wheels 100 years ago and to this day no other state offers more to creative, energetic entrepreneurs and dedicated business people. Michigan has world-class research universities that are training the next generation of business leaders, a talented workforce recognized around the globe for its skills and work ethic, and a business climate and advanced infrastructure among the nation’s top ten. Add to this the great quality of life and Michigan is the right place for high-tech entrepreneurs and companies to commercialize cutting-edge research and grow their business.

    Cerenis Therapeutics COO and staff personCerenis Therapeutics Chief Scientific Officer Narendra Lalwani (left) and Chief Operating Officer Bill Brinkerhoff 
    “. . . a wealth of talent with an unbeatable work ethic. Michigan is a great place to live and grow a biotechnology company.”
    - Bill Brinkerhoff
    COO
    Cerenis Therapeutics
    More than 525 life sciences companies, organizations and institutions are driving to revolutionize the biotech sector fueled by investments of more than $2 billion in research & development each year. Michigan legislation established the Michigan Life Sciences Corridor set to invest $1 billion over the next 20 years to facilitate the exponential growth of the life sciences research and development sector. Combined with the state’s creative incentive programs and customized economic development services, it is easy to see why thousands of innovators are choosing Michigan in making ground-breaking discoveries and thriving in Michigan.

    Michigan’s life sciences industry is comprised of pharmaceuticals and ancillary services, biotechnology & agricultural biosciences, regenerative medicine, medical devices, instrumentation and diagnostics – all of them thriving in an environment that fosters collaboration between academic ideas and entrepreneurial innovations. Since 2002 more than 122 new start-up companies have been formed here, fueling the accolade that ’Made in Michigan’ will once again change the world.
  • Michigan’s competitive, pro-business climate can give your company the edge you need to compete in the biomedical industry. We offer several unique economic incentives, specially tailored for high-tech and growth industries, to help your company succeed:

    Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund - Investment at a Critical Stage

    The Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund provides access to early-stage capital investment with the goal of positioning companies for follow-on investment. Supported by Michigan’s SmartZonesSM consortium, the Pre-Seed Fund offers amounts of $50,000-$250,000 per company alongside an investment partner who provides a minimum match equal to half of the requested pre-seed support. Eligible start-up companies must be past the concept development and analysis phase, and have specific milestones identified for achieving commercialization (i.e., hiring key management executives or specialized consultants, regulatory review, CRO agreements, marketing strategies and sales plans, etc.).

    Michigan Pre-Seed Microloan Fund Accelerating Entrepreneurial Development

    The Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund Microloan is available to companies throughout Michigan to help accelerate businesses to the point of readiness for outside investment and/or customer sales. Loan amounts are no greater than $50,000 and available to companies that are pre-commercialization (pre-revenue and no private equity) but have a business plan and at least an early product prototype/proof of concept.

    Michigan Emerging Technologies Fund (ETF) - Matching Federal R&D Support

    The Michigan Emerging Technologies Fund (ETF) is designed to expand funding opportunities for Michigan bioscience companies in the federal innovation R&D arena. The ETF will match 25% of phase I SBIR/STTR to a maximum of $25,000, and 25% of phase II SBIR/STTR awards up to $125,000.

    SBA Programs - Supporting Small Business

    Michigan offers a variety of federal SBA programs including 7(a) Loan Guaranty, SBAExpress, CAPLines and Export Working Capital.
  • The State of Michigan offers a wide array of business resources, ranging from public through private, to academic – all of which ensure that Michigan businesses have all the tools they need to flourish. The states focus on this sector has been expanded by such collaborations as the University Research Corridor comprised of Michigan’s top three research universities that expend well over $1.3 billion in research activities and the Michigan Life Science and Innovation Center, a 57,000+ square foot life science incubator, designed specifically for life science research and business development. 
    • SmartZonesSM and Business Accelerators help life sciences companies incubate and commercialize products by using resources in these technology clusters.
    • Michigan institutions share resources and expertise to enhance life sciences research and product development through the Core Technology Alliance.
    • Michbio, the Michigan Biosciences Industry Association, was formed to support the growth of the biosciences industry and its constituent companies in Michigan through meetings, events, networking, careers and education.
    • The Michigan Life Science and Innovation Center (MLSIC) is made possible by a broad-based coalition. Partners in the venture include the MEDC; Wayne County; a private foundation; Ann Arbor SPARK; the New Economy Initiative and Plymouth Township. The MLSIC is a 57,000+ square foot life science incubator designed specifically for life science research and business development . The goal of MLSIC is to catalyze growth by combining state-of-the-art laboratory space, office space and entrepreneurial support in one location.
    • The Biosciences Research and Commercialization Center at Western Michigan University commercializes promising life science discoveries, recently providing $1.9 million to nine biotech startup companies.
    • The Southwest Michigan Innovation Center (SMIC) is a part of the Kalamazoo SmartZone network. SMIC is located in the Western Michigan University Business Technology and Research Park, also a part of the Kalamazoo SmartZone, and a prime location for life sciences and R&D businesses. SMIC is a 58,000 square-foot multi-tenant incubator / accelerator providing specialized wet-lab space and intensive support for high-tech life sciences companies in their early stages.
    • The University Research Corridor is an alliance of Michigan’s three leading research institutions: Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University.
    • The CMU Research Corporation at Central Michigan University uses nanotechnology for better drug delivery and gene therapy to reach targeted parts of the body.
    • Michigan Universities Commercialization Initiative (MUCI) complements and enhances technology transfer functions available at Michigan academic and research institutions to promote their life science inventions.
    • The Michigan Small Business & Technology Development CenterSM network provides a full range of services to assist emerging and growing technology companies, including assistance in the areas of IP protection, alternative financing, management team planning and commercialization strategies.

  • Life Sciences Strengths

    Advances in the life sciences sector can impact the growth of many companies. Recognizing this early, Michigan invested $320 million, talent, and resources to create a business climate that supports the specific needs of the biomedical sector. Today, this investment is paying off with Michigan leading the nation as one of the fastest growing life sciences states.

    With over $2 billion invested in research and development each year, our key areas of focus remain on innovation, infrastructure, talent, and capital - giving Michigan companies the necessary ingredients to succeed. 

    Collaborative Innovation

    The bioscience company or the life science professional locating to Michigan has access to an unparalleled concentration of state-of-the-art equipment and resources devoted to research and discovery. Michigan’s research universities remain the nation’s leader in enrollment and awarded more high-tech degrees than 48 other states in the U.S.

    In 2006, Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, and Wayne State University founded the University Research Corridor (URC) to accelerate economic growth in Michigan by educating students, supporting innovation, and encouraging the transfer of technology to the private sector. In the past five years, the URC was among the top three clusters for generating patents, 136 to be exact, and created twice as much licensing revenue than the more commonly recognized Research Triangle cluster comprised of Duke, North Carolina, and North Carolina State universities.

    Having world class researchers in close proximity fosters an intellectual climate in which ideas are exchanged easily and partnerships are developed. Come find your opportunity through collaborative innovation only in Michigan.

    Infrastructure

    Michigan has spent over a decade growing an infrastructure to strategically support business development efforts of early stage life science companies. From business plan writing to intellectual property matters, small to mid-size research operations have access to the full spectrum of service providers facilitating commercialization. With an abundance of premier facilities, the state’s strategic location, and world-class transportation resources, Michigan can provide all of the necessary tools to establish and transform your ideas into reality.

    Michigan’s 15 SmartZones, each unique to their regional needs, include technology business accelerators and incubators that provide the critical entrepreneurial and commercialization support services essential to growing start-up ventures. From clean rooms and wet lab space, to product development guidance, coaching for business plan pitches and access to seed capital, the Michigan SmartZone network is the framework around which the state’s entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem has blossomed.

    Talent

    Michigan’s life sciences sector has grown for a number of reasons, none more important than access to a highly talented workforce. Today, close to 80,000 Michigan residents are working in the life science industry producing cutting edge research, designing new devices, developing life saving therapies and engineering innovative diagnostics. Michigan has the 4th largest high tech workforce in the nation, providing companies with the highly educated employees they need right now. And our world class universities are leading enrollment in the nation and graduating a large number of high-tech majors, and our community colleges training Michigan’s future workforce through innovative teachings and on-the-job training with leaders in the business world.

    Capital

    Michigan’s bioscience companies, building on the solid foundation of scientific and technological innovation laid down by Upjohn, Parke Davis and Stryker Corporation, are backed by Michigan’s strong commitment to see them through to successful commercialization.

    Michigan has directly invested more than $323 million in bioscience companies via the Life Sciences Corridor and 21st Century Jobs Fund commercialization competitions, with an additional $47 million invested in venture capital firms in turn investing in bioscience firms. In fact, Michigan is home to 16 venture capital funds, and is one of only nine states to offer state fund-of-fund investment programs, totaling $500 million in state investment capital available. The $100-million Southwest Michigan Life Science Fund created to invest in early-stage companies may be the largest pot of community-based private capital ever raised by an economic development organization.