LifeScience Alley®

About LifeScience Alley®

Background LifeScience Alley is the largest state-based trade association serving the life sciences in the United States. It represents over 600 member companies, organizations and institutions of all sizes that devote their efforts to the research, development and commercialization of the life sciences as well as those in the health care delivery system. LifeScience Alley acts as the industry’s central resource for fostering innovation, offering education and creating consensus. It offers members unique opportunities to network and collaborate and provides them with a strong, unified voice at the state and federal level. LifeScience Alley is the state affiliate for the national Biotechnology Industry Association (BIO)
• The 10 largest life science firms in Minnesota generate over $100 billion in revenue a year. • Minnesota ranks as one of the top states in the nation in filing patent applications and is highly rated for its educated workforce and entrepreneurship. • Minnesota’s medtech cluster ranks second or third in size in the U.S. and is home to over 500 FDA-registered medical technology manufacturers. • Health care represents the largest segment of the Minnesota economy and employment. The state is a leader in medical devices. Per capita, Minnesota is number one, and second in dollar terms overall (behind only California). • Minnesota is a leader in the development of biofuels, ethanol production and other agricultural and industrial bioscience applications. The state is also a leader in nutraceuticals. • Pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies have a fast-growing presence in Minnesota.
Diverse Membership LifeScience Alley comprises a broad range of over 600 member organizations that employ approximately 250,000 people in the state of Minnesota and thousands more throughout the U.S. and the world. LifeScience Alley is a unique organization, as its members hail from all life science industry sectors including medical device, pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, health care providers and insurers, agricultural and industrial biotechnology, and renewable energy. LifeScience Alley’s diverse membership is one of its greatest advantages; members can access information and create collaborative relationships across the entire life sciences industry. This diversity also strengthens the organization’s collective voice as an advocate for the industry on a state and national level. While a majority of our members are based in Minnesota, a growing number come from the surrounding states, parts of Canada, as well as from other states and countries around the globe.
Education and Professional Development LifeScience Alley provides top-quality education and professional development for life science professionals and hosts 120 + seminars and 2-3 major conferences per year. Speakers and panelists are drawn from local, national, and international organizations, most of which are LifeScience Alley members.
Government Relations LifeScience Alley is actively involved in helping shape health care public policy on both a state and federal level. The Association retains two legislative consultants who work with members and government leaders to affect positive changes for the life science industry that includes the health care delivery system. Current federal legislative activity is focused on the medical devise excise tax and the FDA’s review of the 510(k) process.
Alley Institute® Alley Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is uniquely positioned to bring the diverse elements of the life science industries together to discuss and develop creative, proactive, problem-solving approaches to key challenges and opportunities facing the industry. Alley Institute operates via foundation grants and conducts research projects.