As Southern Arizona becomes a magnet for healthcare innovators everywhere, the U of A is showcasing the local talent, infrastructure for entrepreneurship, and international connectivity causing the global attraction. 

In May, a healthcare delegation organized by the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) brought more than 100 delegates to campus from around the world, including Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Korea, Mexico, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the U.S. After a morning of conversations at the Grand Challenges Research Building, the group toured the university’s Arizona Simulation Technology and Education Center.

Arizona is #1 in the nation in the manufacturing growth of semiconductors, optics, and photonics, and #2 in growth for medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals manufacturing.

The visitors learned from ACA representatives about the state’s economic landscape, including that Arizona is #1 in the nation in the manufacturing growth of semiconductors, optics, and photonics, and #2 in growth for medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals manufacturing. International and domestic goods and services produced in AZ reached $32.2 billion in 2024—an 80% increase since 2011. Mexico, Canada, the Netherlands, China, and the UK are top international export destinations. With a one-day trucking radius reaching more than 86 million consumers, the state is also strategically positioned for national commerce.

“We see the U of A as an invaluable economic partner.” -Tucson Mayor Regina Romero

Tucson and the U of A are critical to Arizona’s story of growth in the healthcare sector. “The belief we have in the University of Arizona is not just because I’m a Wildcat,” Tucson Mayor Regina Romero told the delegation. “We see the U of A as an invaluable economic partner.”  

Jill German, CEO of Roche Tissue Diagnostics, pointed to the company’s symbiosis with the university: “Roche Tissue Diagnostics exists because a pathologist at the University of Arizona, Dr. Tom Grogan, had a great idea that became Ventana Medical, and Roche understood the vision and bought it. We decided to stay and invest in Tucson because the talent pool is deep, and the business environment is very positive for us.”  

Courtney Williams, founder and CEO of Emagine Solutions Technology, credits her alma mater with providing both talent and strategic insight: “We recruited our first hire from the U of A, and now we recruit solely from there.” When Emagine Solutions needed to fill gaps in its advisory board, “We were able to meet with the experts right there on campus. The talent of those researchers has helped lead to the tenfold growth of our company.” 

• University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI) executive director Casey Carrillo described how UACI, an International Business Innovation Association Soft Landings Incubator, helps international companies enter, adapt, and grow in the U.S. market. 

• Tech Launch Arizona (TLA) is “all about experiential opportunities,” said associate vice president Douglas Hockstad, noting that 60% of the commercialization efforts it supports are related to the health sciences. Courtney Williams, founder and CEO of maternal-health-focused Emagine Solutions Technology, praised TLA:  “It’s one of the super-connectors. I contact them whenever I need to be introduced to the right people, like a fire department willing to test our new ultrasound equipment in ambulances speeding down the highway.” 

• The Eller College of Management’s associate dean of partnerships, Anastasiya Ghosh, introduced the delegation to several of the college’s offerings, including a  Healthcare Management program, a four-day Generative AI Leadership Accelerator, HSLopez School of Business Analytics, and a new Eller Partnerships Office program that embeds students in local companies to help solve real-world business challenges. 

• Dr. Jennifer Barton, former director of the BIO5 Institute, described the institute as “the front door to the university for all things bio,” highlighting its role in connecting researchers across disciplines to drive innovation and collaboration in the biosciences. 

Tomás Diaz de la Rubia, U of A senior vice president of Research & Partnerships, captured university’s posture toward healthcare leaders and innovators: “We cannot do this alone. We’re excited about partnerships and prepared to receive you.”