One of the mainstays in Delaware’s growing life sciences sector is getting a shot in the arm from the federal government.
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced this week it’s sending $153 million in grants to the Newark-based public-private biopharmaceutical manufacturing innovator NIIMBL.
The largest grant the institute has ever received since its start in 2017—$83 million—comes from the American Rescue plan and is meant for NIIMBL to prepare for and respond to coronavirus outbreaks.
The other $70 million is for NIIMBL to develop efficient, scalable domestic biopharmaceutical manufacturing processes to make the U.S. less reliant on foreign supply chains. That amount requires a private match from NIIMBL’s more than 180 member organizations.
Sen. Chris Coons says the pandemic has brought to light the importance of NIIMBL’s work.
“The urgent importance of continuing to innovate in how we research, develop, manufacture and deliver vaccines, therapeutics and pharmaceuticals to the world. We have never had a more poignant, challenging and teachable moment,” said Coons.
Coons adds NIIMBL has had a transformative impact on the Newark area since arriving on UD’s STAR Campus in 2017
“My hope is that it will lead not just to innovation on that site in Newark Delaware, of course, but all over our country, that it will lead to thousands of jobs not just in Delaware, but all over our country and that it will deliver solutions for the challenges facing our country,” he said.
NIIMBL says the funds will help develop new technologies, provide access to industrial equipment and develop a supply chain database.
