|
RICHMOND, VA - Governor Glenn Youngkin announced a landmark partnership with AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly and Company, and Merck that commits up to $120 million of private industry investment toward developing the Virginia Center for Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing. This builds on over $12.5 billion in recently announced capital investment from the Life Sciences sector, committing to create thousands of jobs in the Commonwealth.
AstraZeneca, Lilly, and Merck have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Commonwealth of Virginia, Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC), and Virginia educational institutions Hampton University (HU), James Madison University (JMU), University of Virginia (UVA), Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VT), and the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) to unleash talent and innovation by developing the Virginia Center for Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing. The Virginia Center for APM will be a neutral, industry-led workforce training and education center network spanning the Richmond-Petersburg-Charlottesville Central Virginia region - a U.S. EDA designated Technology and Innovation Hub for Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing.
"Virginia is again leading the way as the top state for talent, education, and innovation as a national leader in biopharmaceutical and life sciences advanced manufacturing. Made in America means Made in Virginia. With the Virginia Center for Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, that will produce 2000-2500 highly-trained professionals each year, we are delivering a world-class workforce engine that's built for growth and driven by industry. The Virginia Center for Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing will continue to fuel Virginia's business renaissance while fortifying America's national security and critical supply chains. Thank you to our industry partners and higher education institutions for locking arms with us as we continue to move the Commonwealth forward together," said Governor Glenn Youngkin.
Building a robust talent engine will expand Virginia's life science and biopharma ecosystem by delivering an industry-aligned and demand-driven skilled workforce that meets employer needs and offers opportunities for all Virginians. Through collaboration with Virginia community colleges, other higher education institutions, and innovation ecosystem partners, students and trainees will be able to progress from micro-credentials to certifications and degrees via hands-on classroom, lab, and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) simulated training. Apprenticeships, internships, and employer projects will be activated and expanded from existing and new Virginia programs so students can enter at a technician level and advance through associate, bachelor's, master's, or Ph.D. programs.
"Virginia is building a world-class training hub for advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing and AstraZeneca is proud to help power it. This partnership will unlock a diverse pipeline of highly skilled talent, strengthen U.S. supply chains, and accelerate the delivery of innovative medicines to patients. By working with Virginia's leading universities and community colleges, we're creating clear pathways from classroom to career while also advancing health for patients across America," said AstraZeneca Chief Executive Officer Pascal Soriot.
"Our investment in this innovative, industry-led training initiative reflects our commitment to the Commonwealth and the future of advanced manufacturing. By developing a highly skilled workforce, we will strengthen America's medicines supply chain and create high-quality jobs in Virginia. As we prepare to break ground in Goochland County, we're investing in people as much as in state-of-the-art infrastructure-building the skills and reliability needed to deliver breakthrough medicines for patients across the U.S. and around the world," said David A. Ricks, Lilly chair and CEO.
"Merck has had a home in Virginia for nearly 85 years, and our Elkton site is a cornerstone of U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturing and talent development. Our hands-on training center-with full-scale simulated operations-proves industry and educators can prepare people for high-quality jobs on day one. This Memorandum of Understanding builds and expands on what we know to be successful. The new industry-led national training center in the Richmond-Charlottesville corridor will scale what works, strengthen Virginia's talent pipeline, and help ensure patients benefit from a resilient, world-class manufacturing ecosystem," said Robert M. Davis, Merck chairman and chief executive officer.
"On the heels of $12.5 billion in announced investments in Virginia to bring back American manufacturing, we are further partnering with the private sector to create an unparalleled workforce development hub that will offer new opportunities for Virginians and local communities," said Virginia Secretary of Commerce & Trade Juan Pablo Segura.
"Creating a world-class talent development system that is aligned to the skills and knowledge required by the life sciences sector is critical to Virginia's vibrant economy. This partnership between some of the world's most innovative companies and Virginia's state-of-the-art research universities and nimble and dynamic community colleges will advance both R&D and a regional workforce prepared to fuel future discovery and growth," said Virginia Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera.
"This collaboration will produce new opportunities for innovative apprenticeships to give Virginians access to cutting-edge technology, processes and procedures that will set them apart. This stands as one more tool in the toolbelt to ensure Virginians have the expertise and experience to deliver in the most demanding of industries on day one," said Secretary of Labor G. Bryan Slater.
"Workforce talent is an essential ingredient in cultivating a thriving innovation ecosystem. VIPC is thrilled to collaborate with industry leaders like AstraZeneca, Lilly, Merck and ecosystem partners like the Alliance for Building Better Medicine to grow talent and innovation throughout Virginia's Life Sciences and Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing ecosystem," said Chief Executive Officer of the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation Joe Benevento.
A one-page summary highlighting today's MOU signing can be found here.
|
