Luke Huh, Contributing Photographer

A week after Gov. Ned Lamont’s announcement that New Haven would be receiving $50.5 million in awards for public infrastructure and facilities for biotech, members of the local life sciences industry voiced excitement for the future. 

City officials and industry members told the News the awards signaled the importance of life sciences for the state’s economic future.

“New Haven is a growing national hub for life sciences and an innovation ecosystem poised to leverage the promise of quantum computing and technology,” Mayor Justin Elicker said at a city press conference announcing the awards last Friday. “This $50.5 million investment by the state will help further catalyze New Haven and Connecticut’s economic growth and future in these industries.” 

The awards will be doled out by the Connecticut Innovation Clusters Program, a $100 million initiative designed to accelerate growth in key sectors such as biotechnology, quantum computing, financial technology and advanced manufacturing. 

One of the major award recipients is QuantumCT, a nonprofit organization that supports growth in the quantum computing industry statewide. Albert Green, CEO of QuantumCT, said that the organization is focused on turning critical quantum research from universities into opportunities for economic growth. 

“What the industry needs to do in general, not just Yale or New Haven, is to translate that research into real-world applications,” Green said. 

The newly established organization is the result of a landmark partnership between the University of Connecticut and Yale that aims to draw more investment into the industry from the private and public sectors.

Green said QuantumCT plans to use the money to build up its four-pillar program: supporting industry partners, workforce development, fostering a stable environment for startups and teaching people about quantum mechanics. 

“When I was a grad student, no one had heard of quantum,” he said. “We want to demystify that.” 

QuantumCT also plans to help companies access the expensive physical equipment often required for innovation in the quantum field, a critical step in creating a stable environment for the industry. 

Another award recipient was BioCT, a nonprofit organization that supports the life sciences community through programming and workforce development. 

“We build a village around every individual and company to make sure that they come here, stay here and grow here,” CEO and President Jodie Gillon said. 

BioCT runs a job board to connect employers and biotech job seekers, as well as organizing networking events. Gillon mentioned that part of the award would go toward hiring an events manager to continue its programming.

She also emphasized her hope of informing people about the opportunities and jobs that life sciences would provide. 

“The goal is to make sure that middle schoolers and high schoolers are aware of all the opportunities in life sciences careers and prepare them because we want them to be on track by the time they’re going to college,” Gillon said.

The award will allow BioCT to expand early outreach programs, centering on low-income communities. 

Gillon praised Dean Mack and Michael Piscitelli, deputy director and administrator, respectively, for the city’s economic development team, for their handling of the application process for the awards. 

“They treated every single organization and individual as a true partner every single step of the process,” Gillon said. “That balance is virtually impossible, and it was absolute magic. I’m really proud and honored to be part of the New Haven cluster, and I think part of why New Haven won is because it was truly a joint venture.” 

In an email to the News, Piscitelli zeroed in on the benefits the awards would usher in for the city’s residents. 

“With the City’s outstanding partners, we are able to focus both on the emerging science and inclusive growth, connecting residents to opportunities in emerging job sectors,” Piscitelli wrote. 

At the press conference on Friday, Elicker pointed to a recent BioCity career pathways program, which hopes to help New Haven students at the city’s public schools take advantage of job growth in the biotech sector.

Piscitelli expanded on the program in his email to the News.

“With a classroom and lab at BioLabs in 101 College Street, New Haven public school students gain college-level credits,” he wrote. “Through this and similar initiatives, there is a sense of belonging for the entire community.”

Piscitelli also highlighted new public infrastructure projects, including a new pedestrian and bicycle corridor linking downtown, Wooster Square and the Hill, that will be funded by the awards.

New Haven was one of 32 municipalities that applied for the Innovation Clusters award, and one of three to advance to the final round.