SAN DIEGO, Calif. & LOS ANGELES & SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Biocom California, the association representing the California life science industry, today announced it has established a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) Member Pledge as an illustration of its commitment to catalyzing lasting change in the industry. Biocom California, its board of directors and signing member companies are dedicated to addressing persistent social and economic inequities for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) through measurable, ongoing action.
This pledge is the result of Biocom California’s DE&I Task Force formed in 2020 to listen, learn and develop strategic imperatives to enable a more diverse, equitable and inclusive current and future workforce. Through task force discussions and Biocom California Institute’s survey analyzing the current DE&I landscape, it became clear that in order to create an ongoing difference, many of Biocom California’s member companies required a supporting platform to stand behind – what is now known as the DE&I Member Pledge.
“Over the course of the last year, our DE&I task force has been listening, learning and having conversations about how we can advance a welcoming and thriving life sciences industry that recognizes the value of individuals with diverse backgrounds, talents, experiences and perspectives. Our pledge is just one of the outcomes stemming from these conversations,” said Joe Panetta, president and CEO of Biocom California. “We crafted our pledge with a specific intention in mind: driving action and accountability. At Biocom California, we remain steadfast in creating and sustaining a more inclusive and equitable industry that extends across the entire country – which means supporting our member companies in this very mission.”
In signing the pledge, Biocom California’s member organizations commit to building diverse organizations and creating pathways that provide opportunities for BIPOC and other underrepresented populations within the life science industry today. The pledge also outlines additional commitments that Biocom California will make, including providing staff resources, financial support and board engagement to support DE&I both internally and externally, among others. Examples of this include partnering with member companies to embrace accountability through ongoing surveys and reporting; delivering resources to help develop and or/strengthen member companies’ DE&I efforts; and identifying, developing and promoting career exploration, preparation, and advancement opportunities for BIPOC and other underrepresented groups.
“Advancing DE&I in a meaningful and lasting way has been one of my main priorities since assuming the chair role for Biocom California’s board of directors, and this pledge is a direct manifestation of my intent,” said Richard Pascoe, board chair of Biocom California and CEO of Histogen. “While this pledge is an important start to building a more representative life science community in California, it is imperative that our members bring this pledge to life by transforming words into deeds and in doing so create a life science industry that truly reflects the patients and healthcare workers that we serve.”
For additional resources on the DE&I Pledge, other upcoming events and how you can get involved, visit Biocom California’s DE&I Resources Center.
About Biocom California
Biocom California is the leader and advocate for California’s life science sector. We work on behalf of more than 1,400 members to drive public policy, build an enviable network of industry leaders, create access to capital, introduce cutting-edge STEM education programs and create robust value-driven purchasing programs.
Founded in 1995 in San Diego, Biocom California provides the strongest public voice to research institutions and companies that fuel the local and state-wide economy. Our goal is simple: to help our members produce novel solutions that improve the human condition. In addition to our San Diego headquarters, Biocom California operates core offices in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area, satellite offices in Washington, D.C. and Tokyo, and has a continuous staff presence in Sacramento. Our broad membership benefits apply to biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, genomics and diagnostics companies of all sizes, as well as to research universities and institutes, clinical research organizations, investors and service providers.
For more information on Biocom California, please visit our website at www.biocom.org. Connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter (@BIOCOMCA).
