Massachusetts Governor Proposes Allocating $400 Million for University Research Endeavors
In a bid to bolster the state's research and innovation economy, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has unveiled the DRIVE (Discovery, Research and Innovation for a Vibrant Economy) plan. This ambitious initiative aims to invest $400 million in university and healthcare research, creating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and attracting top talent.
Key Components of the DRIVE Plan
The DRIVE plan consists of several key components:
- Research Funding: $200 million will be allocated directly to research projects at hospitals, universities, and independent research bodies. The remaining $200 million will be used for research partnerships, joint ventures, and initiatives at public universities.
- Research Catalyst Fund: A new 501(c)(3) entity, the Research Catalyst Fund, will be established to accept and distribute philanthropic contributions and matching funds from industry.
- Job Creation: The initiative aims to create jobs across sectors beyond research, including construction, healthcare, food services, retail, and administrative support.
- Financial Support: The plan includes providing financial support for direct and indirect research costs, cross-regional partnerships and joint ventures, and retaining and hiring new research and teaching positions.
Strengthening Massachusetts' Research and Innovation Ecosystem
The DRIVE plan is designed to protect and create jobs while accelerating discoveries that can lead to lifesaving treatments and economic growth. It aims to counteract federal research funding fluctuations and reinforce Massachusetts’s position as a national innovation hub.
The plan follows a UMass Donahue Institute report that shows federal research and development funding in Massachusetts supports about 81,300 jobs and generates over $16 billion in economic activity annually. Massachusetts is home to 11.3% of all research and development jobs in the U.S., despite only having 2.4% of jobs nationally.
Endorsements and Support
Higher education leaders across Massachusetts have endorsed Governor Healey's proposal, including Marty Meehan, President of the University of Massachusetts, Joseph E. Aoun, President of Northeastern University, and MIT President Sally Kornbluth.
Marty Meehan praised the DRIVE initiative for protecting Massachusetts' world-renowned research and innovation economy and attracting and retaining top talent. Joseph E. Aoun commended Healey and her team for ensuring Massachusetts remains a global leader in cutting-edge research. MIT President Sally Kornbluth described the DRIVE program as a welcome endorsement of the Commonwealth's 'eds-and-meds' ecosystem and a way to sustain the state's leadership in research, education, and innovation for decades to come.
DRIVE's Impact on the Future
The DRIVE plan also includes an executive order establishing an "Advisory Commission on Advancing Research and Discovery in Massachusetts." This commission will convene leaders from the medical community, higher education, and economic development to recommend measures to strengthen the state's research and innovation ecosystem and advance scientific discovery and job creation.
The Research Opportunity Review Board, a newly created body, will govern the Research Catalyst Fund and identify projects that benefit the public and advance the innovation economy.
In Fiscal Year 2024, federal research funding of $8.57 billion in Massachusetts supported 81,300 jobs, generated $7.8 billion of income, and produced more than $16 billion in economic activity across various sectors. With the DRIVE plan, Governor Healey aims to build on this success and secure Massachusetts' position as a global leader in research and innovation.
[1] UMass Donahue Institute's Economic & Public Policy Research Group report on the impact of federal research and development funding in Massachusetts. [3] White House fact sheet on federal research funding in Massachusetts. [5] National Science Board report on research and development in the U.S.
- Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey's DRIVE plan, aimed at boosting the state's research and innovation economy, includes a focus on both science and health-and-wellness, as it intends to invest in university and healthcare research, attracting top talent and creating jobs.
- The DRIVE plan also entails forming partnerships with national entities such as the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and the Trump Administration, further emphasizing the importance of scientific research in Massachusetts.
