With recent investments in biopharma manufacturing, Virginia is meeting the moment with a major push to build its talent pipeline, launching new training programs and a dedicated workforce center to prepare workers for advanced manufacturing roles. As reshoring accelerates, the Commonwealth is positioning itself not just as a production hub—but as a leader in workforce readiness.
Pam Cheng is executive vice president of global operations and IT and chief sustainability officer at AstraZeneca, which recently announced a new facility in Albemarle County — the company’s first in Virginia. VEDP Vice President of Manufacturing Sneha Atwal spoke with Cheng about the Commonwealth’s rapid rise in pharmaceutical engineering and the company’s plans for the new facility.
The pharmaceutical manufacturing innovation that came out of a Virginia university is changing the way medicines are made. The Commonwealth’s universities and the rest of its biopharma research community are making sure Virginia is ready to make the medicines of the future.
Virginia’s cities, counties, and towns represent a wide range of living situations, with a location to support any lifestyle.
VEDP's Vice President of Manufacturing Sneha Atwal speaks with Dave Maraldo, senior vice president of Human Health Manufacturing Operations at Merck, one of the five largest biopharmaceutical companies in the world.
Virginia’s cities, counties, and towns represent a wide range of living situations, with a location to support any lifestyle.
Across Virginia, local life sciences ecosystems are helping researchers connect with the funding and facilities they need to grow.
VEDP Senior Vice President of Talent and Workforce Strategy Megan Healy spoke with Beard about talent in Virginia and the rest of the country and the ways states and regions can help ensure alignment between skill development and employer needs.
Key investments at Virginia Tech, George Mason, University of Virginia help the Commonwealth position itself as a home for AI innovation.
Virginia’s FastForward program offers locally relevant job training and certifications — efficiently and affordably.