Page 31 - Innovation Delaware 2021

NEW GRANT PROGRAM TO BOOST LAB SPACE AVAILABILITY
For Delaware’s innovators, a shortage of lab space has been an ongoing challenge. To address that concern, the Delaware Prosperity Partnership (DPP) has launched
a pilot grant program.
The state’s Council on Development Finance has allocated up to $3 million from the Delaware Strategic Fund for the program, and Gov. John Carney pledged to include additional funding in the fiscal year 2022 budget.
The lack of ready-to-go lab space “is a growing challenge that faces every state because of increased demand from bioscience companies,” according to
ARIEL GRUSWITZ, DPP’s director of innovation. Some of these companies do not have the cash flow needed to build out lab space, and would prefer to use their funds
to get products to market.
“We’re looking for companies that need support as they get their products ready to commercialize,” Gruswitz says. “We want to improve the available inventory in the
CHARLES F. SALLER
state and continue to support companies we’ve already invested in or that are interested in coming to Delaware.”
Companies will need to be partnered with developers on
a specific project to apply for
the grant. Anyone interested in learning more can contact Gruswitz
at agruswitz@choosedelaware.com.
One company that is exploring an application is ABS, which supplies high-quality cells and tissues for biotech research. The company plans to build more lab space for
its own growth and to support other companies in need of such space. “We thought we could help other companies grow, so we came up with the concept of a bio accelerator,” says CEO CHARLES F. SALLER. “We’re not just going to provide leased lab space, but we’ll provide services and scientific help to bring other companies along.”
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