Life Science
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Life-Saving Innovations
For more than 50 years, Greater Seattle’s life science industry has led the way in developing transformative medical breakthroughs to advance global health. The convergence of cutting-edge research institutions, technology disruptors, and a deep ecosystem of more than 1,180 life science companies in Washington state has elevated the region to be one of the top 10 life science clusters in the nation.
Strength in Numbers
Billion
Gross Regional Product
Jobs
Million
square feet (SF) of lab and R&D space (Colliers, 2023)
Top Life Science Cluster in the U.S.
Projected Growth 2023-2028
of jobs are held by women
Supportive Ecosystem and Infrastructure
We have unique convergence of world-class research institutions, global health leaders, technology disruptors, and the ecosystem of over 1,180 life science companies in Washington state that make the region a top life science cluster in the nation.
Greater Seattle is home to prestigious research institutions such as the University of Washington, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, the Allen Institute, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Institute for Systems Biology, Institute for Protein Design, Gates, Foundation for global health. These institutions are at the forefront of pioneering research in genomics, immunotherapy, and precision medicine, attracting top-tier scientists and researchers from around the globe.
There also have been more than 86,000 unique job postings in the industry over the past 12 months, with over 2,400 employers competing for talent. We have a healthy funding environment that includes venture capital and funding from the National Institutes of Health, as well as private foundations. In 2021, over 180 investors poured $5B into 112 private, early-stage Life Sciences deals in Washington state. And, Washington has an innovative, state cancer research fund – the Andy Hill Care Fund – that has distributed more than $58M in grants for cancer research to Washington state companies and research institutes.
Map of Leading Life Science Companies Located in Greater Seattle
We’re trailblazers in the lab and on the trails
Home to more than 1,180 life science companies, the region is one of the top 10 life science clusters in the nation.
- The University of Washington, ranked the #1 most innovative public university in the world by Reuters in 2019, has incubated 100 life science companies.
- In 2021, over 180 investors poured $5B into 112 Life Sciences deals in Washington State.
- Greater Seattle life sciences research funding from the National Institutes of Health amassed $1 billion Greater Seattle life sciences research funding from the National Institutes of Health amassed $1 billion each year in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 (CBRE, 2023).
- The region is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and resources that cater to the specific needs of life sciences companies. With 9.34 million square feet of lab and R&D space, advanced laboratories, and research centers, Greater Seattle provides the infrastructure necessary for scientific discovery and commercial success.
- The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center received a $710 million dollar donation from the Bezos Foundation for cancer research, signaling the region’s commitment to life science research.
- A magnet for top talent, Washington’s life science industry is 45% women, one of the highest concentrations of women in a STEM-based industry.
With nearly $1.4 billion in federal life science funding funneled annually into the state’s leading research institutions, the region continues to drive advancements that significantly impact global health.
We turn mission critical
into mission control
Greater Seattle’s Thriving Life Sciences Ecosystem
Greater Seattle’s outstanding life sciences ecosystem is characterized by its cutting-edge research, robust infrastructure, and collaborative community. With strong support for innovation and a high quality of life, the region is poised to continue its leadership in the life sciences sector, offering unparalleled opportunities for growth and development. Whether you are a researcher, entrepreneur, or investor, Greater Seattle is the ideal destination to thrive and make a lasting impact in the field of life sciences.
Greater Seattle Life Science News
The University of Washington’s Institute for Protein Design (IPD) Keeps Boosting Startups, Fueling AI-Powered Science
The IPD’s generative AI tools like RFdiffusion and RFantibody are being used to build companies like Xaira, which has offices in Seattle and already has several employees in the city. The company aims to combine machine learning with large-scale data generation to fuel new models and develop new therapies.
Why Greater Seattle is a top place for innovation in health care and life sciences
Your heart has valves that function like doors: They open and shut to let blood flow from one chamber to the other. Sometimes, though, a valve might have difficulty closing. This is known as a leaky heart valve. When a valve doesn’t close properly, it causes blood to back up close to the lungs, resulting in shortness of breath, fatigue, lightheadedness and other health challenges.
Western Washington University (WWU) and Washington Research Foundation Partner on New Western Innovation Training Fellowship
The Western Innovation Training Fellowship, which accepted its inaugural cohort in February, is designed to cultivate a community of entrepreneurial researchers at WWU. The fellowship supports student-faculty partnerships across STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) departments. The inaugural cohort comprises five student-faculty teams, each pursuing research projects with notable potential for commercialization.
A Critical Convergence of Expertise in Seattle’s Biotech Ecosystem
If you are at high risk of having a heart attack, stroke or cardiac death now or in the next year, wouldn’t you want to know? Thanks to one Seattle-area biotech startup, you can now find out with a simple blood test.
Univ. of Washington set to break ground on 69-acre redevelopment to create Seattle innovation hub
The University of Washington this year expects to break ground on a new building that will anchor an ambitious, innovation-focused redevelopment called Portage Bay Crossing. The project will cover 69 acres of the southwest portion of the Seattle campus, revitalizing and unifying an area of buildings that officials called old and underutilized.
#1 Healthcare Job Search Site in Japan Chooses Greater Seattle for North American Launch
Jobley, whose parent company MEDLEY, operates the #1 healthcare job search site in Japan has chosen to locate in Bellevue, WA. It is a career marketplace for medical professionals to find their best fit jobs. The company currently focuses on nurses and dental professionals where employers control the hiring process by posting jobs free of charge, sending scout messages to candidates, and paying competitive fees only for successful hires.
Reimagining Patient Care: The Role of Tech and Innovation in Human-Centered Health Care
Discover how cutting-edge technology is revolutionizing healthcare by placing patients at the center of care, from AI to telehealth solutions. Dive deeper into the innovative approaches reshaping the future of medicine.
Life Science Incentives
Income Tax: Washington State does not have a corporate income tax. As a result, companies can generate savings of $35,000 to $3 million annually, depending on profit margin. This is compared to states that apply, for example, a 7% corporate income tax.
Business & Occupational Tax: Washington uses a business and occupation (B&O) tax in place of an income tax. This means that regardless of its profitability, the company will be taxed only on its gross receipts. The state’s standard manufacturing rate is 0.484%.
Personal and Intangibles: Washington is one of only seven states that does not levy a personal income tax. Washington also does not impose a tax on intangible assets such as bank accounts, stocks, or bonds.
Washington Customized Employment Training Program – B&O tax credit: Available to all Washington employers. The program, administered by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC), is a revolving loan fund that provides assistance for training costs to businesses locating or expanding in Washington. Participants in the Customized Employment Training Program can earn B&O tax credit for 50% of the amount paid to the program. All credits must be applied to returns filed with the Department of Revenue by June 30, 2026.
Job Skills Program (JSP): This program awards grants to train prospective employees before a new plant opens or when an existing company or industry expands. Training is conducted in collaboration with local colleges and educational institutions. JSP awards half of the training cost and partner employers provide cash or in-kind match to fund the other half. Grants average $900 per employee trained.
Ready to take advantage of everything Greater Seattle has to offer?