LANSING – A report from a panel created to study the feasibility of branding the metro Detroit area’s efforts in health research and education said doing so could help promote economic development.
The 18-member panel, jointly created by the Detroit Regional Chamber, Detroit Renaissance and the state, called for a number of steps to be taken to help boost the identity of the area with cutting-edge research and top medical and health-care education.
In a press release, Gov. Jennifer Granholm said the report shows that Southeast Michigan “represents an untapped life sciences economic development bonanza for the entire state of Michigan. When we all leverage the region’s considerable life sciences assets, our shared vision will make Southeast Michigan a world-class development zone for biosciences, biotechnologies, the health care industry and pharmaceutical manufacturing.”
The panel looked at how a number of regions – including Boston, Cleveland, New York, Washington, D.C., Seattle and others – had organized their scientific development efforts, in terms of education, treatment and industrial efforts.
Former U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz, chair of the panel, said the report showed that “greater cooperation between our premier healthcare-providing institutions and academic health care training centers is critical to success.”
The panel called for creation of a Detroit Regional Health Care Economic Development Council to implement the panel’s recommendations; development of an asset map and economic impact study of the region’s life sciences sector; expand efforts to co-locate life sciences research assets and technology companies through university partnerships; continue efforts to promote technology transfers from universities to businesses; view health care as a critical economic sector; and develop a strategy to attract venture capitalists to develop businesses.
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