The Shapiro Administration has underscored the importance of expanding Pennsylvania’s innovation economy during a visit to Thermo Fisher Scientific’s biomanufacturing facility in Dauphin County, while outlining new funding proposals in the state’s 2026–27 budget.
State officials highlighted the role of life sciences, robotics, technology, energy, manufacturing, and agriculture in driving long-term economic growth. Governor Josh Shapiro is proposing increased investment to strengthen these sectors and maintain Pennsylvania’s position as a national leader in research and industrial innovation.
A central feature of the budget is the proposed “Innovate in PA 2.0” initiative, which would deploy nearly $100 million into the state’s innovation ecosystem. The program is designed to provide capital for startups, support clinical trials in life sciences, and develop workforce pipelines to meet the needs of advanced industries.
The announcement was made during a tour of Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Millersburg facility, which produces single-use sterile systems used in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, including vaccines and cancer treatments. The company has expanded operations in the region in response to rising global demand for bioproduction technologies.
State officials emphasized that Pennsylvania’s life sciences sector is a major economic driver, supporting more than 100,000 jobs across thousands of companies and research institutions. Over the past five years, the state has also recorded more than 10,700 life sciences patents, ranking among the top states nationally for innovation output.
Administration leaders said the new investment strategy builds on existing programs supporting startups and agriculture innovation, including expanded funding for agricultural technology and rural development initiatives. They argued that continued public investment is necessary to attract private capital, support high-quality jobs, and sustain competitiveness in emerging technology sectors.
The proposal reflects a broader effort by the state to link academic research, manufacturing capacity, and startup funding into a coordinated innovation pipeline aimed at accelerating commercialization and economic growth across Pennsylvania.
