Connecticut is Home to Life Science Innovators & Researchers

Connecticut is part of a dynamic ecosystem that includes some of the top life sciences clusters in the country. The state is home to a thriving life sciences community that is anchored by a robust ecosystem of cutting-edge research, highly educated workforce, and innovative companies. Connecticut has become a nucleus of life science advances—from groundbreaking research in personalized medicine to device manufacturing of the latest medical technology. From the creation of the artificial heart to stem cell study to genome research, Connecticut continues to demonstrate its commitment to serving as the center for biomedical advances.

Connecticut’s Life Sciences Corridor, following I-95 and I-91 from Stamford to Hartford, is more concentrated, easily accessible, and as productive as other nationally recognized bioscience hubs. Anchor cities like New Haven, Stamford, and Farmington, as well as Groton in the southeast, have experienced a rapid growth in life sciences companies over the last decade, with New Haven ranking #9 in the nation for life sciences growth1 and Stamford ranking #1 for 5-year job growth in physical, engineering, and life sciences R&D2. This surge is thanks in large part to the state’s 38 world class colleges and universities, including Yale University and the University of Connecticut (UConn), and the talent pipeline, research partnership, and incubator opportunities that stem from them.

 

Key Facts

  • 27,800 life sciences employees in Connecticut3
  • 1,300+ life sciences establishments in the state4
  • #3 state for biological/biomedical science advanced degrees awarded per capita5
  • #7 in the US for STEM Location Quotient (LQ)6
  • #9 in the nation for science, engineering, & health doctorates in the workforce7
  • $742M in NIH funding secured in 2022, the 6th most per capita in the U.S.8
  • #3 in bioscience patents per capita9
  • #2 in the nation patents per 1,000 individuals in science and engineering occupations10
  • #2 for academic bioscience R&D expenditures per capita11
  • #5 in the U.S. for bioscience venture capital investments per capita12
  • #4 in medtech and medical device manufacturing13
  • #1 in Health IT adoption – a key indicator of healthcare innovation14

 

“Connecticut’s universities are great engines of innovation. Those ideas attract capital, both from the private sector and public sector. Together, with Connecticut’s talent pool, those are the three ingredients for a successful bioscience company.”

Arvinas Founder Craig Crews on launching a pharmaceutical enterprise in New Haven

 

Support for Connecticut’s Life Sciences Industry

  • BioCT – serves as the unified voice for the bioscience community; providing event programming and networking, exclusive purchasing and savings programs, entrepreneurial and career development resources, as well as policy and advocacy initiatives
  • Yale University Center for Biomedical Innovation and Technology (CBIT) — consortium of engineers, clinicians, scientists, innovators and entrepreneurs to help incubate, support, implement, and potentially bring to market novel technical approaches to address under-met clinical needs
  • CTNext — network of services offered to entrepreneurs which also offers Technology Talent Bridge Internship Program
  • CONNSTEP — a business consulting firm focused on identifying opportunities for growth, improving productivity, and ensuring competitiveness 

 

Life Sciences Sector Snapshot


◄ Get an in-depth look at Connecticut’s insurance industry cluster.

  • industry trends and dynamics
  • concentrations of talent and workforce pipelines in Connecticut
  • Connecticut's regulatory environment
  • logistical and infrastructure considerations
  • the state’s strengths for companies in the state
  • data and resources for companies seeking market entry into Connecticut

 

Learn more about Connecticut's key industries in our detailed snapshots.


1Business Facilities Magazine, 2023; 2among MSAs with 500+ industry jobs, Lightcast 2022, AdvanceCT calculations; 3Lighcast, 2022; AdvanceCT calculations; 4Lighcast, 2022; AdvanceCT calculations; 5Lighcast, 2022; AdvanceCT calculations; 6Lightcast, 2022; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, O*NET definition; AdvanceCT calculations; 7National Science Foundation, 2021; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS, 2021; AdvanceCT calculations; 8National Institutes of Health, 2022; 9TEConomy/BIO, 2022; 10National Science Foundation, 2022; 11TEConomy/BIO, 2022; 12TEConomy/BIO, 2022; 13Business Facilities Magazine, 2023; 14Information Technology & Innovation Foundation, 2020