Pfizer donation aimed at Michigan life sciences, biotech

As consolation prizes go, $6 million worth of big-ticket scientific research equipment and supplies isn’t bad.

Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. announced plans to shutter its Ann Arbor facility last year, and since then has been pumping dollars into the Michigan economy, donating a $50 million Holland research facility to Michigan State University, pledging nearly a million dollars to the Washtenaw County United Way and a cool million for Ann Arbor-area nonprofits, to name a few initiatives.

The company’s most recent effort, announced Tuesday, is the donation of the aforementioned top-dollar supplies to area start-ups handicapped by the cost of research equipment. (You’d be amazed at what a flux capacitor goes for these days)

“When Pfizer announced the Ann Arbor site closure, we promised to do everything feasible to the minimize impact, and as we worked with federal and state leaders it was clear that supporting the growth in life sciences was one way we could help,” says Pfizer spokesman Rick Chambers. “It’s important to the state economy and to the patients who benefit from the research that this equipment could support.”

Companies can apply for equipment and supplies through Ann Arbor Spark’s Michigan Innovative Equipment Depot, says Mike Finney, president and CEO.

“We are actively rolling out the program,” he says. “We’ve come across a lot of companies looking to get a start, but companies need equipment. This donation fills a lot of key voids out there for companies in a start-up mode to get high-value equipment that would be cost prohibitive.”

Finney says interested businesses can register at Ann Arbor Spark’s Web site, and can then view equipment before making a claim.

As part of Tuesday’s donation, Pfizer has also donated equipment to Wayne State University, the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Eastern Michigan University.

Source: Mike Finney, Ann Arbor Spark, Rick Chambers, Pfizer
Writer: Nancy Kaffer