GRAND RAPIDS – Van Andel Institute Chairman and CEO David Van Andel will keynote the March 16 Rotary Club of Grand Rapids luncheon by discussing what it will take to sustain the explosive growth of the life sciences industry in Western Michigan.
Grand Rapids has experienced well over $360 million in health science industry development since 1999. Health science institutions in the Greater Grand Rapids area have broken ground or announced plans for more than $650 million in new development. In the past four years alone, the state and private investors have spent well over $1 billion on life sciences ? and this does not include investments in hospitals.
Van Andel, son of Amway co founder Jay Van Andel, and CEO of IdeaSphere, will deliver a speech called Education: The Foundation of Scientific and Economic Promise. In it, he will explore what it Will to sustain the growth of life sciences in Grand Rapids. Will the area be able to deliver the human capital to staff these new facilities?
As Michigan, and particularly West Michigan, plan for the future, Van Andel will address why strong investments in science and math education are vital to sustaining economic growth and to ensuring a good quality of life for future generations.
Van Andel brings a unique perspective to this issue. As chairman and CEO of the Van Andel Institute, he leads both a cutting-edge medical research facility and an innovative educational enterprise. He knows that education and scientific advancement are inextricably linked. As a long-time business leader, he is also well versed in the economic implications of this burgeoning industry ? and the importance of building a well-trained workforce.
