Our mission is to provide a centralized system for Southeastern Pennsylvania life science organizations to:
Spur economic growth
Strengthen their workforce
Do business better
History
The Keystone LifeSci Collaborative (KLSC) launched in March 2024 as the first industry partnership of its kind, creating a central hub for stakeholders to promote continued growth of Greater Philadelphia’s thriving life sciences industry. Since then, KLSC has established itself as the central resource for centering industry needs, with a focus on developing collaborative, comprehensive, systems-level solutions.
Funding for the Keystone LifeSci Collaborative comes from the American Rescue Plan’s Good Jobs Challenge, specifically a $22.7 million grant awarded to Philadelphia Works for the region, with a portion allocated for healthcare and life sciences training. KLSC’s scope spans Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware, Chester, and Berks counties. KLSC currently engages over 50 life sciences companies. We welcome new members that are committed to collaborative problem solving!
The following regional leaders shaped the launch of KLSC:
- A.J. Adams, Manager of Partner Services, West Philadelphia Skills Initiative
- Cait Garozzo, Executive Director, West Philadelphia Skills Initiative
- David Zuzga, Ph.D., Associate Dean of Biomedical Studies, The Wistar Institute
- Eric Hacherl, Ph.D., Founder and CEO, Smart Bio Works; Chief Operating Officer, Kyttaro Therapeutics
- Kristy Shuda McGuire, MS, Ph.D., Dean of Biomedical Studies, The Wistar Institute
- Margaret Bryans, Ph.D., Biotechnology Associate Professor and Program Coordinator, Montgomery County Community College
- Patrick Bayer, MBA, Senior Manager, Economic Mobility, University City District
- Bryan Tsao, Ph.D., Manager, Life Science and Healthcare Initiatives, The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia
Serving Southeastern Pennsylvania
The Keystone LifeSci Collaborative encourages new member companies to join and participate in our quarterly meetings and Action Teams to help move the life sciences industry forward.
The Keystone LifeSci Collaborative is made up of C-Suite life science industry leaders in Southeastern PA, from Philadelphia, Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties.
The Keystone LifeSci Collaborative is a regional, Next Gen partnership of Southeastern Pennsylvania life science leaders and community partners.
With support from the American Rescue Plan’s Good Jobs Challenge, the mission of the Keystone LifeSci Collaborative is to provide a centralized system for Southeastern Pennsylvania life science and healthcare institutions and organizations to:
Do business better
Strengthen their workforce
Spur economic growth
On March 6, 2024, leaders from the life sciences industry across the Greater Philadelphia metro region convened to inaugurate the regional partnership. It was at this meeting that the five key priorities were identified:
Strengthening business to business connections
Initial focus on creating a robust site for industry to access centralized life sciences resources, including recommended service providers, life sciences events in the region, and professional forums.
Developing a coordinated strategy for building a talent pipeline
Initial focus on solutions to better connect university students to jobs at life sciences companies and to expand programs for skilled, sub-bachelor’s degree positions.
Raising awareness of life sciences careers
Initial focus on making it easier for companies to engage with existing career awareness programs and on building stronger partnerships between industry and the public partners leading those programs.
Marketing the region as a life sciences hub
Initial focus on refining a shared message about the strengths of the region that can be used consistently by public partners and industry.
Influencing Policy
Initial focus on improving access to capital for life sciences companies in the region.
The Collaborative is based on the nationally recognized “Next Gen Sector Partnership” model, active in over 100 regions and more than 20 states. It is the first of its kind in the Southeastern Pennsylvania region.
The Next Gen model departs from the traditional government-driven approach to workforce development where the public sector takes the lead and industry plays a reactive role. In the Next Gen approach, business leaders are proactive, stepping up to champion shared solutions together. Industry leaders draw on expertise and support from government and nonprofit partners to design solutions that strengthen the industry, grow good jobs, and expand equitable access to those good jobs.
