Keeping our lead in life science
GREATER BOSTON has long been recognized as a leader in scientific research, medical technology, and healthcare. The region's preeminent life science cluster boasts cutting-edge companies, first-rate teaching hospitals and research institutions, a highly skilled workforce driven by world-renowned colleges and universities, significant federal research funding, a robust venture capital community, and committed civic leadership.
However, competition for this leadership role is intensifying from both domestic and international markets. Other states are working quickly to establish industry-friendly policies and funding mechanisms designed to attract life science companies. Other countries, particularly China and India, are aggressively courting industry investment by offering a low-cost structure and a strong pipeline of skilled workers.
A recent study by the Milken Institute ranks Boston as the top life science cluster in the country, but notes that other regions are quickly closing the gap. The Greater Boston Chamber released a report recently entitled ''Sustaining Greater Boston's Life Science Leadership," which outlines key competitiveness issues facing the region's life science cluster and presents actionable recommendations that address them.
Greater Boston's vibrant high-tech and life science clusters hold unlimited potential to grow the region's market share of cutting-edge life science disciplines including bioinformatics, stem cell research, and translational research. Building on Boston's current strengths in each of these disciplines is critical to maintaining our leadership position in life science and contributing to advances in patient-oriented research and the development of new treatments.
However, we need tangible steps to nurture this cutting-edge research, including pursuing federal grant funding and developing research-specific state tax incentives. Additionally, the region could capture a greater share of new life science development simply by reforming the onerous and confusing permit process for new construction. By implementing reforms that retain municipal autonomy while reducing permit roadblocks and delays, we can generate increased life science activity.
Greater Boston's greatest asset is its ability to offer employers a highly skilled workforce driven by our premier educational institutions. However, more must be done to expand the skills of our residents, increase the number of graduates who remain in the region, and promote the recruitment of talented foreign students and workers.
We must encourage our residents to take advantage of community college job training programs. Technicians and lab personnel comprise 30 percent of biotech jobs nationally; however, our region's current pipeline of workers trained to fill these positions is inadequate. Addressing this issue, while expanding state incentives for state college and university worker training, will allow us to capture more of the life science industry value chain.
Greater Boston's economy has long benefited from its ability to attract the brightest minds to study and work here. However, recent changes to immigration policy and processes have resulted in declining foreign student enrollment and insufficient numbers of temporary worker visas to meet life science industry needs.
By working to expanding the H-1B visa cap, streamlining visa processing procedures, and marketing our higher education institutions to foreign markets, Greater Boston and the country as a whole will remain at the forefront of life science innovation.
Skilled workers are the lifeblood of the life science industry, and it is imperative that we do all we can to retain them. We must address our region's high cost of living and the resulting outflow of workers by promoting high-density, smart growth housing production. Additionally, graduate retention efforts could be enhanced by strengthening the connection between area life science companies and students at local colleges.
Leaders in the life science, high technology, government, and nonprofit sectors must work together to ensure that Greater Boston sustains its leadership position. By addressing our competitive disadvantages through specific policy initiatives and collaboratively marketing our unparalleled intellectual capital and infrastructure to leaders around the world, we can ensure that our residents realize the full economic and quality of life benefits of this critical sector of our economy.
Dr. James J. Mongan is chairman of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and president and CEO of Partners HealthCare. Paul Guzzi is president and CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. 
