Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — What’s the State of AZ’s Bioscience Sectors?

Good afternoon,

We hope you’ll join us virtually for an opportunity to find out the state of the bioscience sector in Arizona during the annual Arizona Bioscience Roadmap progress report from the Flinn Foundation.

The online presentation will take place from 12 – 1 pm on Wednesday, April 8th. It will come just seven months after the launch of the state’s new long-range strategic plan to guide bio innovation and impact through 2030. You can register to attend HERE.

The report will examine the state of bioscience from two perspectives:

• Research: Flinn Foundation President and CEO Tammy McLeod and Sethuraman Panchanathan, who served as the 15th director of National Science Foundation and has now returned to Arizona State University, will talk about new national realities, priorities, and opportunities in the biosciences.
• Industry: Greater Phoenix Economic Council President and CEO Christine Mackay will moderate a discussion about what recent Arizona developments mean for the sector’s trajectory.

The latest data available from last year shows that more than 144,000 people are employed in bio-related fields in Arizona (including hospitals) and salaries are 30% higher than the state’s average wage. In 2025, bioscience R&D at the state’s universities exceeded $800 million for the first time and outpaced the national growth rate.

The roadmap was originally commissioned by the Flinn Foundation in 2002 and updated in 2014 and last year. The newest iteration has five overarching goals to guide the growth of the Arizona biosciences: amplifying the “collective gene”; accelerating research into impact; elevating Arizona’s startup ecosystem; strengthening talent and career pathways; and telling the state’s bioscience story.

We hope to see you (virtually) at the Arizona Bioscience Roadmap progress report to hear the latest progress – and challenges – for this vital sector of our local economy.