The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) is accepting applications for Business Builds: Life Sciences, formerly BioBoost, a capital grant program supporting life sciences companies that establish, expand, or improve Massachusetts operations, with priority for biomanufacturing and advanced medtech manufacturing.
Funding: MLSC anticipates up to 10 direct manufacturing scale-up grants, generally $500,000 to $2,000,000. Deadline: October 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EST. The optional September 8 early deadline has passed.
Eligibility: Life sciences companies of any size may apply if they are based in Massachusetts or will expand into Massachusetts. Massachusetts-based applicants must provide current Certificates of Good Standing from the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth and Massachusetts Department of Revenue. A non-Massachusetts company must establish a Massachusetts presence before using grant funds. Funded manufacturing activity must remain in Massachusetts for at least 10 years.
Mandatory match: Applicants must match the grant dollar-for-dollar on a 50/50 basis. The match cannot consist of other Massachusetts state grants or in-kind contributions. Under Atlas control rules, a Dr. Miltie direct application must not advance unless Marc specifically approves the required non-Federal match and the company can document sufficient eligible matching capital.
Eligible costs: Capital expenses tied to the manufacturing project, including facility buildout or fit-out, renovation, permanent equipment or infrastructure, site preparation, utilities, HVAC, clean-energy installations, third-party installation/engineering/construction services, and capitalized software that is part of asset creation. Ineligible costs include staff salaries and wages, fringe, indirect/overhead, non-capital consulting, office supplies or software not tied to asset creation, travel, working capital, general operating costs, and other non-capital administrative expenses.
Projects must be economically feasible in FY27 and complete eligible work before June 30, 2027. Shovel-ready projects receive priority. The same project is not eligible if it has already received the Massachusetts ClimateTech Tax Incentive for Capital or MOBD Business Builds support, although a separate project may be considered.
Application: Online through the MLSC application portal. The application requests company and authorized-representative information, project description, grant request, total capital expenditure, projected five-year FTE growth, location/project type, public benefits, workforce and supply-chain impacts, sustainability, a completed budget template, required good-standing certificates for Massachusetts applicants, and authorized-representative certification/signature. Optional supplemental project documentation may also be uploaded. Program contact: businessbuilds@masslifesciences.com.
Atlas Opportunity Score: 94/100. N9+ Fit: 88/100, conditional. Because MLSC expressly prioritizes advanced medtech manufacturing, a Massachusetts manufacturing expansion for the Nonagon N9+ remote physical examination device/platform could be a legitimate project concept if it meets the program’s manufacturing, capital, job-creation, public-benefit, readiness, and matching-funds requirements. This is not a healthcare-provider equipment grant. QC Healthcare Fit: 10/100. Dr. Miltie direct-applicant fit: 82/100 conditional, with no direct submission authorized until the required 1:1 match and a qualifying Massachusetts manufacturing project are documented and Marc has specifically approved the match.