Bioscience Roadmap update underway
The Flinn Foundation has commissioned a third iteration of Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap, the longest-running, statewide bioscience strategic plan in the nation.
The Roadmap was first commissioned by Flinn in 2002 and updated in 2014. It has directed the sustained advancement of the state’s bioscience sector.
Flinn contracted with SRI International for the latest plan. The independent nonprofit research institute will provide updated goals and objectives for the Arizona biosciences into the future.
The Foundation expects to unveil the new plan in September 2025. This next iteration is being guided by Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap Steering Committee, a group of about 125 leaders from the private and public sectors in science, health care, business, academia, and policy.
Roadmap goals
The Roadmap’s five overarching goals, as well as strategies and potential actions, were established during the most recent update of the Roadmap in 2014:
1. Entrepreneurial hub: Form a hub of bioscience entrepreneurs and new enterprises across Arizona.
2. Research to practice: Increase the ability of research-performing institutions to turn research results into improved disease/illness prevention, detection, and treatment, plus bio-agriculture and industrial biotechnology products.
3. Bio-talent: Make Arizona a bio-talent powerhouse with a workforce that’s developed, educated, trained, and retained.
4. Connectivity: Promote Arizona to economic partners in neighboring states, Canada, and Mexico as a place where bioscience research, health care delivery, and commercialization seamlessly intersect.
5. Collaboration: Pioneer a new level of commitment to partnerships that enhances the state’s “collaborative gene” reputation.
Search 1,200+ companies and organizations on the Arizona BioMap
History
Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap was compiled by Battelle Technology Partnership Practice based on research and input from Arizona leaders and national bioscience experts.
Battelle found Arizona possessed many of the essential elements needed to become a global leader in niche areas in the biosciences.
During the ensuing decade, Arizona strengthened its research infrastructure and expanded efforts to commercialize research into products, jobs, and firms. The state grew its industry base and became one of the nation’s fastest-growing bioscience states.
In 2014, the Foundation commissioned an update of the Roadmap for a second decade. The updated document, also compiled by Battelle, envisioned Arizona as globally competitive and a national leader in select areas of the biosciences by 2025.
Tracking our progress
The Flinn Foundation has commissioned a third-party consultant to track the performance measures for the state’s bioscience sector since the Roadmap’s inception, first Battelle followed by TEConomy Partners.
The data pertaining to a consistent set of metrics, including jobs, wages, capital, research and development, and technology transfer, is gathered and reported publicly on a biennial basis. The latest data can be found in this detailed analysis from TEConomy Partners, “Biosciences in Arizona: 2025 Performance Review.”
In addition, the Foundation tracks the progress of the bioscience sector each year by highlighting the state’s major developments.
The latest Progress Report, released in April 2025, documents another record high in National Institutes of Health funding. It also cites key bioscience advances including a $2 billion investment from Mayo Clinic, a $74.5 million grant awarded for Alzheimer’s research, and the downtown Phoenix location for ASU Health.
For more information, view the Current Report and Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap: Advancing the Biosciences and Improving Health Outcomes.
