SHERIDAN, WYOMING – July 25, 2025 – Maryland continues to assert itself as a national leader in life sciences, driven by a dynamic workforce, strong academic institutions, and expanding industry infrastructure. With the Washington, D.C.–Baltimore area ranking among the top six U.S. regions for R&D and manufacturing talent, the state is attracting significant investment and fostering sustainable growth across biotech and pharmaceutical sectors.
Talent-Driven Advantage for Life Sciences Expansion
According to a recent CBRE report, the Washington, D.C.–Baltimore metro ranks third in the nation for life sciences R&D talent and sixth for manufacturing. This robust talent ecosystem, combined with Maryland’s strategic geographic positioning, makes it a compelling destination for biotech and pharmaceutical companies.
The Biotechnology Industry Organization and TEConomy Partners also reported that from 2019 to 2023, Maryland’s bioscience employment surged by 16.4% to 52,633 jobs—outpacing national trends. Notably, four out of five bioscience subsectors posted double-digit growth:
- Research, testing, and medical laboratories: 22.1%
- Medical devices and equipment: 16%
- Pharmaceuticals: 15.6%
“When we’re working to attract companies, the range of talent that we have available to them here is definitely a selling point for Maryland and something that will win companies over other regions in the country,” said Stefanie Trop, director of life sciences at the Maryland Department of Commerce.
Major Industry Players Fuel Infrastructure Growth
Maryland’s appeal has led to strategic investments from global pharma leaders. In May, AstraZeneca opened a $300 million commercial cell therapy manufacturing facility in Rockville. This week, the company confirmed further expansion of its R&D operations in Gaithersburg as part of a broader $50 billion U.S. investment initiative.
The state’s life sciences talent pipeline benefits not only from academic output but also from federal agency expertise. Trop highlighted that professionals affected by downsizing at agencies such as the FDA are swiftly transitioning into roles with biotechs and pharmas. “Based on what she’s heard from colleagues and friends at the agency, those who were let go there are being picked up quickly by biotechs and pharmas,” the report noted.
Universities play a pivotal role as well. CBRE’s data ranks Washington, D.C.–Baltimore third nationally for life sciences Ph.D.s awarded in 2022–2023, with 458 doctorates conferred.
Adapting to Emerging Technologies and Talent Gaps
Maryland’s institutions are actively addressing workforce evolution prompted by rapid technological change. The University of Maryland’s pharmacy school will launch a Master of Science in artificial intelligence for drug development this fall. BioHub Maryland complements this with biopharma manufacturing skills training.
Trop emphasized the interdisciplinary nature of the University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing. The institute merges expertise in epidemiology, public health, oncology, and cardiology with AI and data science to advance healthcare delivery. Regarding the accelerating role of artificial intelligence, Trop observed, “We’re just seeing it really integrated at every level of different types of companies, whether it’s their internal processes to their product development to clinical trials and on and on.”
Leadership development also remains a focus. Trop noted that scientists looking to commercialize university innovations often lack access to experienced executive partners within the state. Programs like TEDCO’s Urban Business Innovation Initiative are designed to close this gap by offering funding, mentorship, and commercialization support.
Looking Ahead: Steady Regional Growth and Strategic Diversification
Trop expressed confidence in the long-term prospects of the BioHealth Capital Region, which includes Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. “It has a rich history, especially compared to some of the newer hubs coming online,” she said.
She also highlighted a shift in business models as companies respond to recent industry challenges by seeking alternative growth strategies. These include co-development partnerships and licensing agreements in place of traditional venture capital funding.
“Coming out of this we, I hope, will be stronger, with more diversification of our strategies to grow and maintain our companies and the industry here in Maryland,” said Trop.
Learn more at https://commerce.maryland.gov/