Life Sciences Competitiveness Taskforce

Taskforce Resources

At a Glance

30+ leaders statewide • April–July 2026 convening • Strategy to inform 2027 legislative session

Task Force Member Resources

Task Force launched April 7, 2026 —

Stay tuned for a forthcoming official press release

The Oregon Life Sciences Competitiveness Task Force is a statewide initiative to define how Oregon will compete, win market share, and scale high-wage job growth in life sciences.

Convened by the Oregon Business Council and Oregon Life Sciences, the Task Force brings together more than 30 senior leaders from industry, higher education, economic development, and government to align around a focused, actionable growth strategy.

Purpose & Vision

Vision

Oregon as a nationally recognized destination for life sciences investment, talent, and innovation — with a growing cluster of high-wage jobs that strengthens communities across the state.

Mission

The Task Force will deliver a clear, actionable strategy to grow Oregon’s life sciences industry by:

• Identifying priority niches and market opportunities
• Advancing targeted policy and investment recommendations
• Producing a roadmap to inform the Governor’s Prosperity Council and the 2027 legislative session

Recommendations will be prioritized across high, medium, and low resource scenarios to ensure action regardless of fiscal conditions.

Why This Matters

Oregon’s life sciences industry is growing, but remains under-concentrated relative to leading markets.

• Location quotient: 0.63, below the national average
• ~40% job growth over the past decade, with strong wages and innovation output
• The industry nationally is projected to at least double by 2030

Regions that reach critical mass benefit from a self-reinforcing growth cycle, attracting companies, talent, and capital at increasing scale.

This effort is designed to help Oregon reach that threshold and capture a larger share of national growth.

What the Task Force Does

Through structured dialogue and targeted work, the Task Force will develop recommendations across five focus areas:

• Innovation & Entrepreneurship
  Strengthening startup formation, spinouts, and commercialization
• Talent & Workforce
  Building a robust pipeline across all skill levels, including crossover roles from semiconductor
• Tax & Incentive Policy
  Identifying aligned, high-impact policies to attract and retain investment
• Infrastructure
  Ensuring access to industrial land, wet lab space, and energy capacity
• Transportation & Exports
  Addressing barriers to efficiently moving products to global markets

The Task Force operates through working subcommittees and is designed to move from strategy to implementation.

Oregon’s Competitive Advantage

Oregon enters this effort with a differentiated foundation:

• Research institutions with national impact
  University of Oregon's Knight Campus and OHSU/Knight Cancer Institute
• Semiconductor–life sciences crossover
  A globally competitive manufacturing base with direct application to life sciences
• Established industry presence
  From large-scale manufacturing to emerging startups
• Highly skilled workforce
  Including elevated concentrations of biotechnologists and technical talent

These assets position Oregon to compete, if aligned behind a focused strategy.

Timeline

• April 7, 2026
  Kickoff Meeting (Portland)
• Spring–Summer 2026
  Subcommittee Working Sessions
• Mid Summer 2026
  Initial Recommendations
• Late Summer 2026
  Final Report Released
• 2027
  Legislative Session Input

Leadership & Governance

Task Force Co-Chairs

• Representative Hai Pham, Oregon State Legislature
• Senator Ron Wyden, United States Senate
• Tim Layton, Genentech

Organizing Partners

• Oregon Business Council
• Oregon Life Sciences

Leadership & Coordination

• Liisa Bozinovic, Executive Director, Oregon Life Sciences
• Andrew Desmond, Oregon Business Council

Task Force Members

The Task Force represents a cross-sector coalition of senior leaders across Oregon’s life sciences ecosystem, including:

• Industry:  Araceli Biosciences • BIO • Genentech • Merck • OBI • ONAMI • Penderia Technologies • Twist Bioscience 
• Research & Education: OHSU • Oregon State University • Portland Community College • Portland State University • University of Oregon
• Economic & Workforce Development: Business Oregon • Greater Portland Inc • Port of Portland  • Willamette Workforce Partnership 
• Public Sector: State legislators and regional and local government leaders statewide
• Investors: Arch Venture • Portland Seed Fund

Measuring Success

The Task Force will measure success by its ability to:

• Deliver clear, prioritized, and actionable recommendations
• Strengthen Oregon’s competitive position nationally
• Increase industry growth, investment, and job creation
• Advance a strategy that is implemented, not just published

Interested in Learning More?

Participation in the Oregon Life Sciences Competitiveness Task Force is by invitation.
To learn more or express interest, please contact Oregon Life Sciences.