Pfizer Giving a Boost to Life Sciences Industries

Equipment Initiative a Display of Leadership
Ann Arbor News - September 13, 2006

News last week that millions of dollars were coming to Washtenaw County via the state's 21st Century Jobs Fund overshadowed what might be an even more remarkable project. Pfizer Inc. is partnering to form the Michigan Innovation Equipment Depot, a statewide effort aimed at helping small companies in the life sciences industries. The pharmaceutical company, with a large Ann Arbor research operation, is donating old equipment valued at more than $1 million - equipment that it typically donates to universities.

Instead, startup businesses with limited resources will be able to use the equipment, assuming they meet certain criteria. (More information about the project is online at
www.annarborspark.org/business-resources)

Job creation is one goal, and an important one that should underlie all economic development efforts, either directly or indirectly. That's the mission of Ann Arbor Spark, the business development group for Washtenaw County, which is managing the project.

It's also the goal for the state's 11 SmartZones - areas designated for economic development support. To apply for the donated equipment, businesses must be located within a SmartZone, including one that covers Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. MichBio, an Ann Arbor-based group, will be helping vet the applications.

David Canter, Pfizer senior vice president and site director for the Ann Arbor labs, is behind this effort. He noted that Pfizer has a vested interest in seeing other life sciences companies succeed. That's because one of the company's strategies is buying drugs developed at smaller firms or universities, which are then taken through the regulatory approval process and manufactured by Pfizer.

The kind of concrete support that will be provided by the Michigan Innovation Equipment Depot is crucial to our local and state economy, as is the leadership shown by Pfizer. It's the kind of collaboration we'd like to see more of in this community and throughout Michigan.

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