Description

Watertown’s life sciences sector surged over the past decade, transforming the city into a recognized hub of Greater Boston’s innovation economy and reshaping the local commercial landscape. 

Today, the city ranks third statewide, behind only Cambridge and Boston, for venture capital raised and the concentration of life science firms, an impressive showing for a city of its size.

But the picture today is more complicated. The industry is navigating real headwinds: tighter venture capital markets, federal uncertainty, shifting space needs and a real estate pipeline that’s outpaced demand.

This program centers on a new report from Watertown BIO examining both the city’s recent gains and the challenges ahead. We’ll also hear from Massachusetts Secretary of Economic Development Eric Paley on how the state sees the sector evolving.

We’ll follow that with a candid conversation about where the industry stands and how Watertown can stay competitive in a shifting market.

Remarks:

• Eric Paley, State Sec. of Economic Development 

Presenter:

• Sam Ghilardi, Founder and Publisher of Watertown BIO

Our panel includes:

• George Proakis, Watertown City Manager
• Philip Borden, CEO of Labshares
• Mark Deschenes, President of Boylston Properties
• Hannah Green, BBJ, Moderator

Additional Panelists to be announced