Advancing Michigan’s Life Sciences: A Direct Dialogue with Governor Whitmer

In the aftermath of the Mackinac Policy Conference, it was a privilege to meet directly with Governor Whitmer at the State Capitol this week and have a productive and forward-looking discussion regarding Michigan’s biosciences industry. Joining MichBio was William U. (Bill) Parfet, a longtime biopharma and medtech industry leader, investor and philanthropist. The conversation centered on Michigan’s unique strengths—world-class research universities, robust manufacturing capabilities, and a growing innovation ecosystem—while also candidly addressing key challenges such as workforce development and talent pipelines, access to capital, and limited visibility on the national stage. We laid out key priorities, both near- and longer-term actions, that could help grow the statewide life sciences cluster and enhance its competitiveness against other regions. 

Governor Whitmer reaffirmed her commitment to life sciences innovation and manufacturing driven growth. Everyone recognized that with strategic leadership and sustained investment, Michigan has the potential to become a top ten biosciences hub nationally delivering high-paying jobs, breakthrough technologies, and long-term economic resilience.