Press Release: 11/2/2026
MLSC Celebrates BIC Tech Hub Groundbreaking
The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) team recently joined Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, state and local officials, industry partners, and the Berkshire Innovation Center (BIC) team to celebrate the groundbreaking of the BIC Advanced Manufacturing for Advanced Optics Tech Hub in Pittsfield, MA.
Supported by $7.2 million in state funding and a $1 million commitment from the City of Pittsfield, the expansion will add approximately 12,000 square feet of specialized manufacturing and laboratory space at the William Stanley Business Park. The new facility will provide growing companies with the resources and infrastructure needed to advance emerging technologies, scale manufacturing capabilities, and strengthen regional collaboration.
With an initial focus on advanced optics and photonics, the Tech Hub will build on the Berkshires’ growing technology industry and established industry expertise. By connecting companies with specialized equipment, complementary technologies, research partnerships, and workforce development resources, the initiative aims to accelerate commercialization, attract new businesses and investment, and expand opportunities for skilled careers across Western Massachusetts.
“Strong regional economies are built through partnerships that connect local businesses, communities, and the resources they need to grow,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This expansion is a great example of what we can accomplish when state and local partners work together to make targeted investments in economic development. By bringing companies, cutting-edge technology, and workforce training together in Pittsfield, we’re helping create new opportunities for businesses and workers across the Berkshires.”
As a longtime supporter of the BIC, the MLSC invested $12 million in capital funding to help establish the center as a regional hub for innovation, providing companies with access to specialized equipment, technical expertise, and industry connections. Building on this investment, the MLSC recently awarded the BIC a $24,000 Out of School Time (OST) Grant through the Education and Workforce Development Grant Program to support the implementation of a dedicated life sciences cohort within the BIC’s established two-week Future Innovators summer program for rising high school sophomores in Berkshire County.
“With the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center’s early investment, the BIC has become a vital pillar of Western Massachusetts’ innovation economy, laying the groundwork for a collaborative ecosystem that connects companies, researchers, and emerging talent with the resources to drive technological advancement and economic growth,” said MLSC Interim President and CEO Liz Graham. “The new BIC Tech Hub builds on that foundation, expanding access to specialized facilities, cutting-edge equipment, and industry partnerships that will empower local companies to scale, accelerate the development of emerging technologies, and create new pathways to skilled careers across the region.”
These investments reflect the MLSC’s continued commitment to supporting Western Massachusetts’ innovation ecosystem, by strengthening regional infrastructure, developing a skilled talent pipeline, and expanding economic and career opportunities for residents throughout the region.