VIEWPOINT: Celebrating heroes of Delaware’s life science frontier

ORIGINAL SOURCE: Delaware Business Times

The “great man theory” of history posits that the decisions and actions of key individuals can, and often do, bend the arc of history.

The 18th Century Scottish philosopher Thomas Carlyle is generally credited with the concept (the flip side argument being that inevitable, seismic global movements and eras simply carry human leaders along for the ride).

Carlyle wrote and lectured extensively on heroism, averring that “the history of the world is but the biography of great men.”

Certainly, no story of the life sciences in Delaware could be told without recognition of the essential roles played by two individuals whose sustained vision, commitment and roll-up-the-sleeves action made our state the enviable, thriving industry hub that it is today.

Over a thirty-year period, through their complementary and often combined efforts, United States Senator Tom Carper and Delaware Technology Park founder Mike Bowman established the foundations and then endeavored to erect what is an increasingly critical pillar of our state’s economy.

Each shares an ability to see what did not yet exist; rarer still, they both also possess the tenacity and skills required to bring that vision into being.

As governor in the 1990s, Tom Carper saw a state that needed a new economic strategy. Two primary sectors were in peril – chemicals and cars – so it required thinking beyond our borders.

Carper asked the right questions: Where was the global economy going? What industries would provide the greatest long-term value and impact? How could Delaware best build on its competitive strengths and most effectively invest for future growth?

At the same time, Bowman, a senior DuPont executive, was preparing to spin a business out of the giant corporation that needed new home – that led to creation of the Delaware Technology Park (DTP), born of a partnership between the state and the University of Delaware.

Soon after came the Delaware Biotechnology Institute, another public-private entity designed to spark research and university-industry collaboration.

Another seminal achievement was the Carper-led recruitment of the newly merged Astra-Zeneca, a master stroke that established our state as a serious biopharmaceutical player.

In his book “Delaware Eyewitness,” former economic development director John Riley shares Carper’s tenacious approach to landing this game-changing investment in our state.

Riley writes that over a months-long period the project team “learned to anticipate a call most mornings between 7:30 and 8:00 am from the governor.”

Carper’s ask: “What can I do today to ensure we are successful?”

They were indeed successful. And just a few years later, such was the demand to serve and support a bustling life science ecosystem in our state that our own organization Delaware Bio was created by Bowman, Bob Dayton, Chris Yochim and others.

To this day, Bowman has had his hand in just about every major science and technology project in the state, enabling the growth of major employers through continued expansion at DTP as well as startup lab space that has incubated hundreds of new companies, leading the state’s Small Business Development Center – the most productive and effective of its kind in the country, and personally counseling, supporting or investing in hundreds of entrepreneurs and their ventures.

His latest projects include the new FinTech Innovation Hub on the UD STAR Campus and a planned 90,000 sq. ft. lab and office building to be constructed at DTP in 2025, with another to follow. In all, his touch has resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars of economic impact in our state.

As a senator in Washington, Tom Carper has consistently supported investment in innovation and access to cutting edge treatments and strengthening our domestic life science manufacturing capabilities.

This bipartisan work has paid dividends both for patients everywhere, and here for our state and region, as the life science sector continues to thrive, today responsible for more than 12,000 direct roles of every kind from research to management to manufacturing.

As we all know, Senator Carper was also instrumental in the revitalization of Wilmington’s riverfront, transforming a dirty and unattractive eyesore into a bustling hive of attractions and restaurants.

Coming full circle, our third annual conference, Delaware’s DNA, will for the first time take place at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in May of 2025, where we aim for the largest gathering ever of global industry players, researchers and investors.

Of course, our industry can only advance with inspired, brilliant scientists who devote their lives to bringing life-changing medicines and technologies to society. But their ultimate impact depends on leaders like Carper and Bowman nurturing an environment where that innovation can flourish.

Carper’s service in elected office is coming to a close and Mike Bowman’s immense contributions were honored last week with the University of Delaware’s highest honor. We are thankful to them both as we reflect on our good fortune as Americans and Delawareans during this special time of year.

Michael Fleming is the President and CEO of the Delaware BioScience Association.