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, 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 vaccine research and development to device manufacturing of the latest medical technology. From the creation of the artificial heart to stem cell study to genomic research, Connecticut continues to demonstrate its commitment to serving as the center for biomedical advances.
Connecticut is home to more than 1,300 life sciences establishments1 that employ over 27,800 people2 in the state, contributing to Connecticut's status as the state with the 7th highest proportion of STEM-related fields and jobs in the U.S.3 This STEM workforce is one of the most highly skilled and educated in the nation, with Connecticut's workers boasting the 9th most science, engineering, & health doctorates in the workforce4 in the country. This talent has resulted in a wide array of innovative companies flocking to the state, from pharmaceutical giants to world class R&D centers to life-changing startups. This dynamic ecosystem and the pharmacological and technological developments that have flourished within it has attracted the 5th highest amount of bioscience venture capital investments per capita5 in the nation, providing Connecticut businesses with the funding and support they need to continue to grow.
“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 |
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 growth6 and Stamford ranking #1 for 5-year job growth in physical, engineering, and life sciences R&D7. 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 partnerships, and incubation opportunities that stem from them. These institutions are also recipients of massive amounts of funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), contributing to the more than $770 million that the state secured in 2023, the 4th most in the nation on a per capita basis8.
Key Facts
for academic bioscience R&D expenditures per capita9
in bioscience patents per capita11
state for biological/biomedical science advanced degrees awarded per capita10
in medtech and medical device manufacturing12
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
- CONNSTEP — a business consulting firm focused on identifying opportunities for growth, improving productivity, and ensuring competitiveness
Accelerate Growth & Innovation
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Life Sciences Sector Snapshot
◄ Get an in-depth look at Connecticut’s life sciences 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.
1Lightcast, 2022, AdvanceCT calculations; 2Lightcast, 2022, AdvanceCT calculations; 3STEM Location Quotient, Lightcast, 2022; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, O*NET definition; AdvanceCT calculations; 4National Science Foundation, 2023, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS, 2021, AdvanceCT calculations; 5TEConomy/BIO, 2022; 6Business Facilities Magazine, 2023
