18 —September 2025 — Delaware — DelMarVa — M id A tlantic Real Estate Journal
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D elaware Delaware Prosperity Partnership
Delaware’s Innovation Ecosystem: A Strong Foundation for Growth
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uilt on industry-defin - ing innovation – his- torically by DuPont – Delaware’s science and technology (S&T) sectors are thriving. Its S&T ecosystem combines with world-class research and development (R&D) assets to encourage creativity, support early-stage companies and promote long- term economic vitality. This collaborative innovation com- munity continues to include DuPont along with fellow in- novators like Incyte, Merck, Chemours and Solenis, among others, and makes the state an increasingly attractive place to develop a business. Delaware’s innovation strength is its robust R&D foundation. The state ranks sixth nationally in industrial R&D intensity, with more than $2 billion in industry R&D investment annually – largely driven by chemi- cals, pharmaceuticals and advanced materials. These investments support high lev- els of patent activity and fuel a vibrant knowledge economy, anchored by research institu- tions like the University of Delaware (UD) and Delaware State University (DSU), each of which has made substantial investments in research ca- pacity and entrepreneurship infrastructure in recent years. Providing further support is a network of organizations and programs, that include The Innovation Space, a nationally recognized science accelerator; UD’s Horn Entrepreneur- ship, which ranks among the top such programs in the United States; and co-working hubs, incubators and industry groups such as UD’s FinTech Innovation Hub and UD’s Center for Clean Hydrogen, the Delaware BioScience As - sociation, the Delaware Sus- tainable Chemistry Alliance and the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIM - BL). Meanwhile, underscor - ing the state’s commitment to inclusive innovation have been Startup302, which finances ventures with underrepresent- ed founders, and the Center for Accelerating Financial Eq - uity (CAFE), which supports inclusive fintech solutions. Delaware is poised for fur- ther growth in innovation and is best positioned to compete globally in five existing S&T opportunity areas:
Delaware’s S&T ecosystem uses world-class R&D to fuel innovation.
DuPont Semiconductors
Delaware Focuses On Creating Diverse Tech Talent Pipeline
University of Delaware Lab
in digital banking, alternative lending, blockchain and finan - cial inclusion. 5. Clean energy systems – A member of the region- al, federally backed Mid-At- lantic Clean Hydrogen Hub (MACH2) and with partner - ships across academia, indus- try and government, Delaware is emerging as a hub for green hydrogen, fuel cells, solar and wind technologies. In addition, Delaware’s three emerging opportunity areas reflect shifting global markets and evolving technologies. Bluetech innovation encom- passes marine science, ocean technology, offshore wind and coastal resilience. Integrated agriculture and sustain- able food production aims to create a self-sustaining, resource-efficient and envi- ronmentally friendly system. Rehabilitative and perfor- mance enhancement tech- nologies focus on improving health outcomes in mobility and musculoskeletal care. By aligning market demand with local research strengths and making strategic in- vestments in infrastructure and talent, Delaware is a resilient, innovation-driven
1. Biopharmaceutical manufacturing and dis- covery – Delaware is lever- aging strengths in cell and molecular biology, genomics and bioprocessing to support next generation therapeutics and investing in infrastruc- ture and talent to support growth in biopharma research and manufacturing. 2. Next generation spe- cialty chemical products – Building on its chemical in - novation heritage, Delaware is at the forefront of developing specialty materials for semi- conductors, pharmaceuticals and advanced manufacturing. 3. Sustainable and high- performance materials – Delaware is advancing in- novation in developing cut- ting-edge materials – from bio-derived substances and advanced composites to re- sponsive nanomaterials – for markets ranging from aero- space to consumer products. 4. Fintech and emerging business services platforms – Delaware’s historic strength in financial services continues today with more than 34,000 sector jobs. The state is a leader in advancing research and workforce development
Delaware’s thriving science and technology ecosystem, built on world-class R&D and collaboration between industry and research institutions, fosters innovation, supports early-stage companies, and strengthens the state’s long-term economic vitality.
economy. It’s also strength- ening its status as a place where early-stage companies can access research partners, tailored talent pipelines and other resources. About Delaware Prosperity Partnership Delaware Prosperity Partnership is the non- profit public/private orga - nization that leads Dela- ware’s statewide economic development efforts to attract, grow and retain
businesses; build a stron- ger entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem; and support private employ- ers in identifying, recruit- ing and developing talent. Collaborating with partners throughout the state since its creation in 2017, DPP has sup - ported more than 75 location and expansion projects that account for more than $3.5 billion in projected capital investment and almost 11,000 new and retained jobs. MAREJ
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