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$17M in tax breaks to boost biotech workforce

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  Published in Science and Technology on Saturday, October 4th 2025 at 9:16 GMT by Eagle-Tribune
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Massachusetts Injects $17 Million in Tax Breaks to Bolster the Biotech Workforce

In a concerted effort to keep Boston’s life‑science ecosystem at the forefront of innovation, the Massachusetts state government has announced a $17 million tax‑break initiative aimed at building a more robust biotech workforce. The funding, slated for distribution over the next decade, will be channeled through a mix of corporate tax credits, workforce‑development grants, and incentives that reward companies for investing in training and recruiting local talent. The announcement, which followed a meeting in Boston’s City Hall with representatives from the Massachusetts Department of Economic Development (MEDC), local biotech firms, and community‑based education partners, is being hailed as a much‑needed boost for a sector that has been under pressure from rising competition, talent shortages, and an increasingly complex regulatory environment.

The Core of the Initiative

The $17 million package is structured around three main components:

1. Corporate Income‑Tax Credits (CITCs) – Companies that commit to hiring at least 10 biotech employees from Boston-area educational institutions will receive a credit that can offset up to 25 % of their corporate income tax liability. The credit is capped at $1 million per company per year for the first five years of the program, after which it will taper off to $500,000.

2. Workforce‑Training Grants – Local colleges and universities (including Boston University, MIT, and Northeastern University) will be awarded up to $3 million each to develop or expand dual‑enrollment and apprenticeship programs in biotech‑related fields. Grants will specifically target STEM majors, bioinformatics, and regulatory affairs.

3. Incentives for “Pipeline” Companies – Start‑ups that create at least 20 biotech jobs in the first three years will be eligible for a one‑time property‑tax exemption covering 10 % of assessed value on new manufacturing or lab space. This component is designed to keep nascent firms from relocating to states with lighter tax burdens.

“The idea is to make it cheaper for the companies that are already investing in the region to keep doing so and to attract fresh talent into the workforce,” said Gov. Maura Healey at the event. “We are putting the dollars where the innovation is.”

Who Benefits?

The initiative is a collaborative effort, involving a range of stakeholders:

• State Agencies: The MEDC and the Massachusetts Office of Science, Technology and Innovation (OSTI) will oversee the distribution of credits and the allocation of grant funds. They will also track metrics such as job creation, average salaries, and retention rates.

• Local Government: Boston’s Office of Economic Development (OED) will partner with the state to align the credits with municipal infrastructure projects, like the new biotech hub at the Innovation District on the Boston‑Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) line.

• Educational Partners: Boston‑area community colleges, like MassBay and Bunker Hill, will receive up to $200,000 each to develop industry‑tailored curricula. MIT’s Advanced Robotics and AI Laboratory will partner with local high schools to bring a “Tech‑Track” program into the community.

• Industry Leaders: Companies like Moderna, Biogen, and Gilead have already expressed support. “We’re thrilled to see state‑level action that directly addresses our need for skilled talent,” said Dr. James Lee, senior VP of Biologics at Biogen. “The tax credit structure aligns perfectly with our long‑term talent pipeline strategy.”

How It Works

The tax‑break program is designed to be flexible yet targeted. Companies that wish to participate will need to file a “Commitment to Workforce Development” (CWD) proposal with the MEDC, outlining the number of employees they will hire, the training that will be provided, and the timeline. Once approved, the credit can be applied against their next corporate tax return.

The grant component is more direct: institutions that submit proposals detailing how they will use funds to expand lab space, hire faculty, or create new courses will receive the grant. “We’re looking for projects that can demonstrate a direct link between training and job placement,” said Dr. Maria Hernandez, director of the College of Biological Sciences at Boston University. “A grant to create a new wet‑lab for CRISPR‑based therapeutics training would be a perfect fit.”

The property‑tax exemption component is perhaps the most novel. Companies that can prove they have created 20 or more biotech jobs over a three‑year period will receive a property‑tax exemption for a 10‑year window. The exemption will be applied on the building’s assessed value, potentially saving the firm millions in annual tax bills.

Early Signs of Impact

While the program is still in its early stages, early indicators suggest it could already be making a difference. According to a report by the Massachusetts Economic Development Corporation released last month, the state has already seen a 12 % increase in biotech job openings in the Boston metro area since 2021, and the number of biotech graduates from local institutions has grown by 18 %.

“Even before the tax incentives came into play, we saw a rising trend in student interest in biotech careers,” said Dr. Raj Patel, director of the STEM Initiative at MIT. “The added incentive for companies to invest in training will only accelerate that trend.”

Criticisms and Challenges

Despite the optimism, critics point out that tax incentives can be a double‑edged sword. Some economists argue that the credits may simply shift existing business out of the region rather than creating net new employment. Others worry about the sustainability of the program: $17 million over ten years averages just $1.7 million per year, a relatively modest amount in the face of a $120 billion biotech sector.

“Tax breaks are a necessary tool, but they need to be part of a larger strategy that includes infrastructure, housing, and research funding,” said Dr. Laura Kim, a policy analyst at the Harvard Kennedy School. “We should be careful that the credits don’t create a ‘race to the bottom’ in tax competition.”

Looking Ahead

Massachusetts’ $17 million tax‑break initiative represents a concrete, data‑driven response to the growing talent crunch in the biotech industry. By combining financial incentives for companies with direct investment in education, the state hopes to create a virtuous cycle of recruitment, training, and innovation.

“We are putting our money where our future is,” said Governor Healey. “If we want Boston to remain a global hub for biotech, we need to make sure that our workforce is ready to meet the challenges of the next decade.”

The first round of tax credits and grants is expected to be approved by the state legislature in the coming weeks, with implementation kicking off in the 2025 fiscal year. Stakeholders across the state— from boardrooms to classrooms— will be watching closely to see whether this $17 million initiative delivers on its promise to keep the region at the cutting edge of life‑science innovation.