Worcester Polytechnic Institute to lead $5.2 million state-funded effort to build Central Massachusetts BioHub

(Press-News.org) Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), in collaboration with Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives (MBI), the City of Worcester, and more than 30 regional partners, has been awarded $5.2 million from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to establish the BioHub, a transformative initiative designed to power the bioindustrial revolution in Central Massachusetts. 

The award was announced by Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll at an event held at WPI, where she also recognized 14 other innovation and technology projects funded by the state to strengthen Massachusetts’ growing innovation economy. 

The BioHub will serve as the foundation for a thriving bioindustrial manufacturing ecosystem, positioning Worcester and Central Massachusetts as leaders in sustainable biomanufacturing, applied research, and workforce development. 

“WPI’s strengths in advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, and life sciences make us a natural catalyst for collaboration and economic growth,” said Grace Wang, president of Worcester Polytechnic Institute. “The BioHub builds on this foundation—bringing together academic, industry, and government partners to drive biomanufacturing innovation, create jobs, and expand opportunity for people across Central Massachusetts and beyond.” 

Over the next three years, the initiative aims to complete more than 24 pilot projects, train over 500 individuals, and create 3,000 new jobs, with an anticipated twentyfold return on investment in economic output. The initiative also aims to create a network of bioindustrial companies from startup to multinational corporations that will collaboratively shape the course of research and training in this field for years to come. 

Powered by breakthroughs in genetics, genomics, process engineering, and artificial intelligence, Central Massachusetts is poised to lead a new era of biology-based manufacturing that transforms how food, fuels, chemicals, and materials are produced. The region already ranks among the top 10 emerging biotech hubs in the country, with $4.5 billion in recent projects, a highly skilled workforce, and one of the nation’s densest concentrations of bioengineers and biological technicians. 

“By designating Worcester as a BioHub, the Healey-Driscoll administration will help the city build on the work it has already been doing to make the city a hub of innovation and help grow industry across the state,” said City Manager Eric Batista. “I am excited to see how WPI and the MBI will accelerate the commercialization of new food, fuels, chemicals, and materials.”  

WPI will leverage its extensive research infrastructure and facilities to support and accelerate the work, including the Biomanufacturing Education and Training Center (BETC), a 10,000-square-foot pilot-scale laboratory where theory is put into practice through active training, process development, and scale-up testing. 

“WPI’s BETC has long been a cornerstone for hands-on learning and industry collaboration in biopharmaceuticals,” said Eric Young, associate professor of chemical engineering and principal investigator for the BioHub project. “Through the BioHub, we’ll expand that impact. This is where research, training, and real-world application truly come together.” 

In addition, the BioHub calls for the creation of an AI-integrated pilot facility to accelerate scale-up testing, launching a builder’s lab for process optimization, expanding a bio-foundry for bioengineering, developing hands-on and augmented-reality training programs, and connecting academic and industry partners across Massachusetts to form a statewide bioindustrial network. MBI will help guide the strategy for accelerating company growth and scaling innovation. As the region’s longest-running nonprofit life sciences incubator and a leader in developing the Central Massachusetts biomanufacturing sector, MBI will work with academic, industry, and government partners to connect emerging ventures to facilities, technical support, and talent pipelines. 

“When we developed the regional biomanufacturing strategy, we knew that focused collaboration and investment in Central Massachusetts was the key to global competitiveness. This investment from the Healey-Driscoll administration recognizes what’s already happening here on the ground,” said Jon Weaver, president and CEO of MBI. “We’ve grown biomanufacturing jobs by more than 84% in the last five years, even as other regions have struggled. The BioHub is about continuing that momentum—giving companies the tools, space, and skilled workforce they need to thrive in Central Massachusetts.” 

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