MichBio's 202 5Year in Review: Building Conditions for Growth

In 2025, MichBio continued to advance its core mission: strengthening Michigan’s life sciences ecosystem by connecting people, shaping policy, and supporting growth across the state. Through strategic convening, targeted advocacy, and close collaboration with state and federal partners, the association helped position Michigan as a competitive and credible destination for life sciences innovation - while delivering tangible results for members.

Across the year, MichBio focused not just on visibility, but on building the underlying conditions that allow companies to start, scale, and stay in Michigan.

Convening the Ecosystem, Statewide

Convening Michigan’s life sciences community remained a central pillar of MichBio’s work in 2025, with a renewed emphasis on geographic reach, inclusivity, and high-value programming. Throughout the year, BioMixers across the state drew strong turnout and consistent engagement, reinforcing the demand for opportunities to connect locally while remaining part of a broader statewide ecosystem. Events in Marquette, Traverse City, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Lansing and Detroit, brought together entrepreneurs, researchers, students, manufacturers, and service providers—often attracting first-time attendees and highlighting the depth of life sciences activity well beyond the state’s traditional hubs.

These gatherings served as more than networking events; they became platforms for collaboration, talent discovery, and cross-sector dialogue, helping to knit together a truly statewide community.

In parallel, 2025 marked the relaunch of BioArbor, MichBio’s thought leadership series, with an expanded vision and audience. The refreshed program featured a mix of Michigan-based leaders and national and international voices, elevating conversations around innovation, leadership, and the future of life sciences. Among the standout speakers was Alan Vanderborght and Michael Gietl, whose global perspectives added depth to discussions already grounded in Michigan’s strengths and ambitions.

Together, BioMixers and BioArbor reinforced MichBio’s role as a trusted convener—one that creates space for meaningful connection, shared learning, and idea exchange across disciplines, geographies, and career stages.

Supporting Economic Development and Industry Growth

In partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Governor’s Office, MichBio played an active role in economic development recruitment and retention efforts throughout 2025. The association supported state-led initiatives by engaging directly with prospective and existing life sciences companies, helping communicate Michigan’s value proposition as a place to innovate, manufacture, and grow.

MichBio represented Michigan’s life sciences sector at major national and international industry events, including the SelectUSA Investment Summit, the MEDICA Trade Fair, and MD&M West, engaging with global companies, suppliers, and investors while reinforcing Michigan’s strengths in research, manufacturing, and talent. These efforts were complemented by direct interactions with major industry players, supporting both attraction and retention conversations critical to long-term sector growth.

Investing in Talent and the Future Workforce

A major milestone in 2025 was the launch of MI BioTalent Connect, supported by an award from the Michigan Innovation Fund. The program is designed to directly connect students with life sciences employers through company tours, panels, demonstrations, and career-focused programming—addressing workforce needs while helping retain Michigan-trained talent.

By intentionally linking employers with students earlier in the pipeline, MichBio is helping companies build awareness and interest while strengthening the state’s long-term talent base.

Despite funding for the program, defined legislatively as a “work project”, being rescinded late in the year, MichBio is optimistic that the competitive award will be restored in early 2026 and planned activities will be delivered to the statewide life sciences community.

State Advocacy That Delivered Results

State-level advocacy was a defining component of MichBio’s work in 2025, beginning the year with strong momentum and sustained engagement throughout the legislative cycle.

MichBio kicked off 2025 by hosting its Legislative Welcome Reception, which drew well over 100 attendees, including dozens of legislators and policymakers, leadership and representatives from member companies, and other ecosystem partners. The strong turnout underscored the growing recognition of life sciences as a critical pillar of Michigan’s economy and set the tone for a year of productive dialogue between policymakers and the bio-industry.

Building on that engagement, MichBio played an instrumental role in the reestablishment of Michigan’s R&D tax credit, working closely with legislators, state agencies, and partners to ensure the credit was structured to meet the needs of innovation-driven companies. The restored program includes a dedicated carve-out for small companies, reflecting the realities faced by startups and early-stage firms, as well as a 5% premium for companies that contract their R&D with Michigan research universities—a provision that directly incentivizes industry–academic collaboration and strengthens the state’s translational research pipeline.

Throughout the year, MichBio remained a consistent advocate for protecting and strengthening Michigan’s innovation and commercialization infrastructure. The association raised concerns about proposed funding reductions that would have impacted research translation and entrepreneurial support programs, emphasizing the long-term economic returns generated by sustained investment in innovation.

MichBio also maintained direct engagement with Governor Whitmer and her administration, reinforcing the importance of life sciences within the state’s broader economic development strategy and participating in key forums such as the Mackinac Policy Conference. When proposed legislation risked undermining biomedical research or creating unintended barriers to innovation, MichBio worked to educate policymakers and promote balanced, evidence-based solutions that support both ethical oversight and scientific progress.

Elevating Michigan’s Voice in Washington

At the federal level, MichBio worked in close partnership with BIO to elevate Michigan’s life sciences priorities and ensure the state’s innovation community had a strong, coordinated presence in Washington. A centerpiece of that engagement in 2025 was MichBio’s participation in the BIO Council of State Bioscience Associations (CSBA) Fly-In, where MichBio was joined by representatives from our member organizations to directly advocate on behalf of Michigan companies.

Together, the delegation advanced a unified message focused on the need for certainty and stability in federal R&D funding, strong intellectual property protections, and continued commercialization and innovation support that enables early-stage and growth-stage companies to bring new technologies to patients and markets. MichBio and its members emphasized the importance of programs such as SBIR/STTR, NIH and FDA funding, and targeted federal incentives that reduce risk and attract private capital—particularly for startups and small companies navigating long development timelines.

MichBio also partnered with BIO to champion the continuation of the Pediatric Priority Review Voucher Program, highlighting its role in incentivizing investment in pediatric and rare disease research and its value to emerging companies pursuing high-impact but high-risk therapeutic areas.

Complementing these policy discussions, MichBio hosted a Michigan Breakfast Reception during the Fly-In, bringing together members of Michigan’s Congressional delegation and senior staff with leaders from the state’s life sciences community. The reception provided an informal but impactful forum to strengthen relationships, share Michigan success stories, and reinforce the state’s contributions to national innovation, manufacturing, and patient care.

In addition, MichBio participated in AdvaMed’s and the Medical Device Manufacturers Association’s (MDMA) Congressional Fly-Ins, advocating on behalf of Michigan’s medical device sector on issues affecting regulatory efficiency, reimbursement, supply chains, and global competitiveness. MichBio also engaged through Michigan Business Group events in Washington, DC, further deepening relationships with Michigan’s Congressional offices and ensuring consistent representation of the state’s life sciences priorities across multiple federal forums.

Moving Forward Together into 2026

As 2025 comes to a close, MichBio’s work reflects a year defined by steady progress and meaningful impact. By convening the community, supporting economic development efforts, investing in talent pathways, and delivering policy wins—particularly the return of the R&D tax credit with provisions that benefit small and research-driven companies—the association strengthened the foundation for long-term growth.

As MichBio enters 2026, the work ahead is both clear and collective. The progress made in 2025—strengthening policy foundations, expanding talent pathways, elevating Michigan’s national presence, and convening a truly statewide life sciences community—was driven by engaged members, committed partners, and policymakers willing to listen and collaborate.

The year ahead will bring new opportunities to build on that momentum: deeper engagement in economic development efforts, continued advocacy for smart and stable innovation policy, expanded workforce and talent initiatives, and more opportunities for companies, researchers, and students to connect and learn from one another.

MichBio invites its members and partners to stay engaged—by showing up at events, lending expertise to policy discussions, welcoming students and early-career talent, and sharing the stories that demonstrate the real-world impact of Michigan’s life sciences sector. Together, we will continue to shape an ecosystem where innovation can thrive, companies can grow, and Michigan can lead.

The future of Michigan life sciences is being built now—and MichBio looks forward to building it with you in 2026.