Maryland is consistently ranked as one of the top five life sciences clusters in the U.S. and is the epicenter of national public health research and regulatory leadership. The region hosts the headquarters of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), US Pharmacopeia, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).For more information on this dynamic cluster, visit the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation’s website here.

Montgomery County, Md., is home to more than 400 emerging and established biotechnology and life sciences companies who are supported by several incubators that accelerate their research and growth. Top universities in the region, including Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland System, produce STEM graduates at a rate that is on par with the regions surrounding other top biotech innovation clusters in the U.S.

The Shady Grove Innovation District is surrounded by walkable retail within a 1/4 mile, including: MOM’s Organic Market, CVS, Cava, Firehouse Subs, Five Guys, Pieology Pizzeria, WOW Deli, and a forthcoming Amazon Fresh grocery store, among others.  Those seeking a mid-day workout can enjoy one of several trails through the King Farm neighborhood or pickup game at nearby Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park. For more on all that the community has to offer, visit the Rockville Economic Development Inc. website here.

As one of the most highly-educated localities in the U.S., more than 60% of adults have a bachelor’s degree and 32% have a master’s degree or higher in Montgomery County, Md.  The state is ranked #1 or #2 among U.S. states for highest concentration of STEM jobs and most professional and technical workers.  More than 40,000 of those workers are in biotechnology.

In 2021, Maryland life science companies secured a record $1.3B+ in venture capital funding from a diverse set of investors.  IPO activity was equally strong with $800M+ raised, nearly four times the previous year.  NIH funding topped $2.4B in 2021 making Maryland one of the top recipients nationally.  Taken together, the growth of these funding sources reflect a consensus view that the Maryland life science industry is on the rise.

Shady Grove Innovation District is conveniently located between I-270 and Route 355, and one exit south of I-370 and Route 200 (Inter-County Connector) providing unparalleled regional connectivity as well as access to 3 international airports. A new MCDOT signal-prioritized bus service launching in 2024 will connect a stop at SGID to the entire Shady Grove corridor, from Shady Grove Metro to The Universities at Shady Grove.