Today the mayors of Boston, Cambridge, Quincy, Somerville, and Braintree announced the formation of the Life Sciences Corridor. The partnership, created by Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh, Cambridge Mayor David Maher, Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch, Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone, and Braintree Mayor Joseph C. Sullivan, will focus on promoting the robust life sciences sector along the MBTA red line in the Greater Boston region. An event for the announcement was held at the Museum of Science, a middle point between the five partnering cities.

“Our cities alone perform quite well, but collaboratively, we will continue to transform the economic prospects for the life sciences sector of the Greater Boston region,” said Boston Mayor Walsh. “This partnership will have immediate impacts on business development and institutional growth, and ensure the region remains an economic engine for the Commonwealth, and a top location for cutting-edge research.”

“It is no secret that Cambridge, along with Boston, Quincy, Somerville and Braintree plays a major role in the life sciences sector in the Commonwealth. This new partnership will benefit our individual communities and the region, but most importantly will continue to foster the atmosphere necessary for innovative and breakthrough research in the life sciences arena,” said Cambridge City Manager Rich Rossi.

“The life sciences are at the heart of our economic development future as a city and together as a region. This initiative harnessing the resources of the entire Red Line corridor is a great collaborative step forward toward reaching our region’s full potential as the world leader in life sciences development,” said Quincy Mayor Koch.

“Our region is rich in resources for the life sciences, whether it’s the leading edge research at our universities, the innovation within local industry or the high concentration of professional talent. This initiative recognizes that together we can best seize this potential with a regional approach, which will yield even greater returns if we expand our collaboration to other spheres and challenges,” said Somerville Mayor Curtatone.

“We are excited to be involved in this unique regional partnership,” said Braintree Mayor Sullivan. “This collaborative effort amongst the five communities sends a powerful message to the life science industry that we are the area to invest and grow.”

Together, the five cities represent over 460 companies within the life science industry sector. The Life Sciences Corridor will focus on attracting business from outside the region, retaining businesses within the region, and promoting cross collaboration between universities, institutions and businesses across the region. This year in San Diego, Cambridge, Boston and Quincy are attending the BIO International Convention (BIO) and coordinating outreach efforts. BIO is the world’s largest gathering of biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations.

The robust life sciences industry in these cities is sustained by the skilled workforce, access to leading universities, established innovative research and development districts, the proximity of major research hospitals, and the presence of venture capital resources. Additionally, the new Corridor is naturally connected by the MBTA Red Line, which serves as an important and efficient connecting link between Cambridge, Boston, Quincy, Somerville, and Braintree.

“For anyone from outside of Massachusetts seeking to grow their business here, the Boston region has always been defined broadly, and the new Life Sciences Corridor initiative embraces that,” said Robert K. Coughlin, President & CEO of MassBio, the life sciences trade association. “We are the destination for not just research & development companies, but contract research and manufacturing organizations, life sciences information technology companies, device and diagnostic companies and support services across the entire healthcare spectrum. It’s great to be able to offer the region’s full spectrum of resources and amenities and we applaud the Mayors for getting together to roll out the red carpet for the industry.”

“It is terrific to see five of our leading cities taking a collaborative approach to life sciences company recruitment,” said Susan Windham-Bannister, Ph.D., President & CEO of the MLSC. “This is the sort of collaboration that makes Massachusetts unique, and acknowledges that our state has many great options to offer companies seeking to locate and grow here. Massachusetts has become a magnet for life sciences companies around the world, and this new collaboration will communicate even more strongly that we are committed to making our state the best place to do business.”