News
News | 2 min read
Greater Richmond named as an emerging U.S. Biopharma cluster
August 12, 2026
Region cited for investment, growing NIH funding and an expanding life-sciences workforce
RICHMOND, Va. (Aug. 12, 2026) — Greater Richmond has been named to the “Regional and State Clusters to Watch” segment of Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News’ (GEN) inaugural “Next 10 U.S. Biopharma Clusters” report, published today. The unranked list highlights U.S. regions positioned to grow alongside the nation’s established biopharma hubs.
GEN cited Greater Richmond’s 1,203 National Institutes of Health (NIH) awards totaling $707.5 million and 904 patent families as evidence of the region’s research momentum. Citing figures from the Greater Richmond Partnership (GRP), the report also noted a regional life-sciences workforce of 7,650 jobs and $80.135 million in venture capital raised by area startups last year.
The report pointed to Eli Lilly and Company’s announcement of a $5 billion active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and drug product manufacturing facility as the largest of three multibillion-dollar biomanufacturing projects announced in Virginia last year. The facility, expected to employ 650 people, will be Lilly’s first dedicated to its bioconjugate platform and monoclonal antibody portfolio, producing therapies for cancer, autoimmune disease and other conditions.
GEN also cited the Alliance for Building Better Medicine, a regional group advancing pharmaceutical manufacturing and workforce development; Phlow Corp, a domestic contract manufacturer based in Richmond; and Haleon’s $54.2 million commitment to upgrade its Richmond R&D Center of Excellence, including a five-year paid internship program with Virginia Commonwealth University and other state schools.
“We were excited to hear from renowned bio journalist Alex Philippidis about his interest in the region and we were able to provide data that supported our claims of Greater Richmond’s rising growth among life science peer regions,” said Jennifer Wakefield, President + CEO of the Greater Richmond Partnership.
About GRP
The Greater Richmond Partnership, Inc. (GRP) is the lead regional economic development organization for the City of Richmond and counties of Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico in Virginia. GRP attracts new companies to the region by providing in-depth market data, marketing the region globally and generating quality economic opportunities.
###
About The Author
As Vice President of Marketing + Communications, Michael directs GRP’s marketing, media relations, creative projects and technical needs. Before joining the Partnership in 2007, he spent six-plus years in newspapers as News Editor at The Daily Progress in Charlottesville, earning multiple Virginia Press Association Awards for writing and design. He holds a bachelor’s in Mass Communications and a master’s in Integrated Communications, both from VCU.
