Aligning for Impact: How MDM2 Advances the Arizona Bioscience Roadmap

In September 2025, the Flinn Foundation released an update on the organization’s ambitious plan to make Arizona a globally competitive and national leader in areas like precision medicine, neuroscience, bioengineering, cancer, diagnostics and agricultural biotechnology. Originally launched in 2002, Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap has already achieved remarkable results in the past two decades-plus. The Medical Device Manufacturing Multiplier (MDM2) consortium’s 2025-2026 Action Plan, also released in September 2025, works in tandem with this groundbreaking vision for bioscience and MedTech advancement in Arizona. 

While the Arizona Bioscience Roadmap sets the statewide vision, the MDM2 2025-2026 Action Plan delivers tangible execution through MedTech innovation and by actively operationalizing many of the Arizona Bioscience Roadmap’s key goals. It’s clear now and in the future, Arizona is generating the infrastructure, workforce and capital necessary to become a national and global leader in the biosciences and MedTech space. 

As we outline in our 2025-2026 Action Plan to accelerate the region’s unique convergence of medical innovation and industry-leading semiconductor manufacturing, we’re advancing closed-loop technologies, strengthening workforce development, fueling startup growth, and expanding shared infrastructure. Bolstered by the Arizona Bioscience Roadmap, we expect key developments to occur in the next 5 years that position Arizona as a national and global leader in MedTech industries.

Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap at a Glance

Already in 2025, the Arizona bioscience industry has a significant presence, employing more than 144,000 people in the state, according to the Flinn Foundation. In 2024, National Institutes of Health funding in Arizona reached a record $368 million, while an additional $1.1 billion in bioscience venture capital was raised in Arizona from 2019 to 2023.

The Arizona Bioscience Roadmap has five primary goals from 2025-2030 to build upon these gains. These strategies support the plan’s overarching vision for the state to be a “nationally recognized, rising bioscience leader with a skilled talent base, world-class research and dynamic industry growth.” 

These five main goals are to:

1. Amplify the collaborative gene: This involves exemplifying “a culture of collaboration, where organizations and participants ensure success of one another and the ecosystem.” This strategy involves leveraging partnership opportunities for talent, investments and innovation, both within the state of Arizona and with national bioscience organizations.
   

2. Accelerate research into impact: By focusing research initiatives on critical needs, including major diseases and public health priorities, this strategy aims to increase the speed and scale of bioscience innovations and commercialization. To achieve this, the strategy includes increasing research partnerships between health systems and industry, as well as developing statewide research initiatives.
   

3. Elevate Arizona’s startup ecosystem: This goal’s strategy includes to build a statewide bioscience incubator network, to diversify the investment base for Arizona bioscience startups, and to offer more programming and mentorship for bioscience entrepreneurs. Another key component is to attract more global bioscience companies to establish a presence in Arizona.
   

4. Strengthen talent and career pathways: This strategy strengthens workforce development programs and educational initiatives throughout Arizona. To establish and grow a bioscience talent pipeline in research, clinical and business arenas, this initiative includes creating more bioscience-focused curriculum initiatives and launching bioscience talent support to increase retention.  
   

5. Tell Arizona’s bioscience story: This strategy involves increasing media presence and positioning Arizona as a leader in national and global bioscience outcomes. Key actions include identifying government initiatives to support the Arizona bioscience landscape, publicizing the progress and achievements Arizona is making in the bioscience industry, and advocating for targeted policy changes that improve bioscience outcomes.
   

During the next 5 years, the core goals and strategies outlined in the Arizona Bioscience Roadmap will accelerate bioscience progress in Arizona and establish the state as a leader in the industry. Initiatives like those set forth by the MDM2 consortium are aligned with these goals to create dual momentum in the biosciences and MedTech fields.

How MDM2 Translates Strategy Into Action

The MDM2 2025-2026 Action Plan helps support the Arizona Bioscience Roadmap, positioning the MDM2 consortium as a facilitator, convener, integrator and policy advocate for MedTech and bioscience industries. Each MDM2 strategic action in the 2025-2026 Action Plan will tactically advance specific Arizona Bioscience Roadmap goals. The following table demonstrates how.

Arizona Bioscience Roadmap Goal	MDM2 Project
Increase Collaboration	Build the Arizona Closed-Loop MedTech Roadmap Convene cross-sector stakeholders to define a device-specific strategy Host and participate in MedTech events to foster collaboration Connect industry leaders with each other for accelerated innovation
Transform Research Into Real-World Impact	Accelerate Commercialization Via IP Strategy Streamline clinical validation for MedTech innovation Expand access to MedTech labs and prototyping space  Remove known barriers in AZ’s startup formation and technology transfer pipeline
Grow the Startup Ecosystem	Establish a MedTech Venture Syndicate Build shared-use innovation infrastructure for the MedTech startups Incentivize early-stage capital and innovation hubs to retain and growth MedTech startups in Arizona
Build the Workforce of the Future	Launch Micro-Credential and Apprenticeship Programs Continue to grow the quality assurance (QA) technician pipeline via West Pharmaceutical Services partnerships with Arizona community colleges and regional partners Create MedTech pathways for mid-career transitioning professionals Improve MedTech professional retention through continued education Provide easy access to MedTech training via Arizona institutions
Tell Arizona’s Innovation Story	Create Strategic Governance and Branding of Greater Phoenix as a MedTech Hub Participate in global MedTech events, such as BIO 2025 Host, recap and publicize stakeholder convenings Enhance Arizona industry visibility through strategic press and content marketing

The Arizona Bioscience Roadmap aligns with MDM2’s main priorities, which include workforce development, lab-to-market commercialization, incumbent manufacturing and venture capital development in the MedTech space. As MedTech comprises a significant subset within the biosciences field, developments made by members of the MDM2 consortium play a critical role in advancing the objectives of the Arizona Bioscience Roadmap and in enhancing results for Arizonans. Stuart Broyles, Program Manager for MDM2, says, “This is how you amplify collaboration! You increase access to people who have best-in-field expertise to work with corporate partners. That’s pure innovation fuel.” 

Why Alignment Between the Arizona Bioscience Roadmap & MDM2 Matters

Unifying strategies between the Arizona Bioscience Roadmap and MDM2 consortium leadership helps increase collaboration and foster an innovative environment of collective competitiveness. By working together, MDM2 members and Arizona Bioscience Roadmap leaders can:

• Avoid duplication of bioscience initiatives, prevent wasted resources, and improve innovation efficiency 

• Amplify resources, share knowledge and accelerate results

• Create clear pathways from research labs to commercialization markets
  

“With the right vision, strategies, determination and courage – and with its rapidly growing resources, existing and potential strengths, and remarkable collaborative spirit. Arizona has a chance to make transformational contributions to bioscientific research and clinical care, with a profound impact of people here in Arizona and around the world,” says Dr. Eric Reiman, chair of the Flinn Foundation board of directors. 

Adds Broyles, “Arizona is uniquely positioned at the intersection of semiconductor technology, artificial intelligence and medical devices. That convergence opens incredible possibilities, particularly in devices that can sense, detect and respond to patient conditions.

“Arizona already has thousands of people with experience in MedTech, engineering, manufacturing, clinical research and regulatory strategy,” Broyles continues.” The challenge is bringing all the pieces together, focusing on the right opportunities, and nurturing them into successful, scalable businesses.”

Bolstered by the grand vision of the 2025 Arizona Bioscience Roadmap, organizations and members within the MDM2 consortium look forward to a bright future of collaboration, innovation and progress in the MedTech and biosciences field. We’re encouraged by the supportive collaboration between both the Arizona Bioscience Roadmap and the MDM2 2025-2026 Action Plan to unify Arizona leaders in these fields.

Want to be a part of Arizona’s MedTech momentum as we support initiatives like the Arizona Bioscience Roadmap and MDM2 2025-2026 Action Plan? Join the MDM2 consortium. Explore the Arizona Bioscience Roadmap.