Life Sciences

Chicagoland is one of the nation’s leading life sciences hubs, thanks to its world-class R1 universities, medical schools, federal and corporate R&D, and growing lab space, especially in Chicago and Lake County. This ecosystem is fueling biotech and pharmaceutical innovation through specialized manufacturing, a deep talent pipeline, and investments in AI and bioinformatics, helping the region compete with top national markets at a fraction of the cost.

By The Numbers

$46.4B in industry output in 2025 – 5th in the nation, up 6.6% over 2024
93,171 employed in life sciences across the region – 5th in the nation, up 2.4% over 2024
2,289 life sciences businesses – up 4% year over year
$937.5 million in growth capital raised by startups in 2025 – up 57.3% over 2024

Midwest's Largest Life Sciences Market

Chicagoland anchors the Midwest life sciences and manufacturing corridor, giving firms efficient access to national and global markets, patients, talent, and supply chains from a central U.S. location. The region's pharmaceutical manufacturing and scientific R&D sub-industries are its largest by employment, anchored by global leaders including AbbVie, Abbott Laboratories, Baxter, Medline, and GE HealthCare.

Lab Space And R&D Infrastructure

The region offers over two million square feet of multi-tenant life sciences lab and R&D space, with asking rents of $50–$65 per square foot – roughly half the cost of Boston at $95–$110. That cost advantage, combined with proximity to established pharma and medtech operations, makes Chicago a practical choice for companies that need to allocate capital carefully as they scale.

Talent Pipeline With Specialized Depth

Chicagoland universities produce the 2nd most healthcare talent in the nation, including 1,235 Doctor of Medicine graduates and 240 PhD graduates in biological and biomedical sciences in 2024 alone. The University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and the University of Illinois Chicago, alongside federal research centers like Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab, continuously generate the researchers, scientists, and technicians that life sciences companies depend on.

Chicago is emerging as a global quantum science hub, with the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park and IBM's National Quantum Algorithm Center positioned to unlock new applications in drug discovery and bioinformatics. That trajectory is already reflected in the capital markets: AI applications for drug discovery accounted for some of the region's largest life sciences deals in 2025. Illinois ranks 8th in the nation for NIH funding ($1.26 billion in FY2025) and 6th for NSF awards ($177.7 million).

At The Frontier of Medtech

Companies Choosing Chicago

Vetter Pharma expanded its regional operations by 158,000 square feet. Plano Pharmaceuticals established its headquarters here with an 80,000 square foot expansion. Meitheal Pharmaceuticals, a Chicago-based biopharmaceutical company, added 40,000 square feet to its office footprint. Across pharmaceuticals, medtech, and biotech, companies are making long-term commitments to this market.