Medical Technology
Among larger metro areas, the Milwaukee area ranks as having among the highest employment specializations in two of four bioscience categories: medical devices & equipment, and chemicals & agricultural feedstock.
The Milwaukee Region is home to several internationally recognized medical technology and biotech firms. GE Healthcare Technologies, a global leader in medical imaging and information technologies, patient monitoring systems and healthcare services, is based in Waukesha and employs 6,000 people at multiple facilities in the region.
The worldwide headquarters of Abbott Laboratories is located just south of the region in northern Illinois, and is the largest employer of Kenosha County, Wisconsin residents.
Hospira is a leader in the development, manufacture and marketing of medication delivery systems, specialty injectable pharmaceuticals and critical care devices. Headquartered in northern Illinois, Hospira employs 14,000 people worldwide, including 500 at an office and warehouse facility in Kenosha County.
The Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee ranks as one of the top 100 academic research institutions in the United States with more than $158 million in research and development expenditures for FY 2015.
Technology Initiatives
The Milwaukee Region has developed an extensive support network to facilitate the growth of biotech firms. Several colleges have adopted their own technology transfer programs, including the Medical College of Wisconsin Office of Research. The Milwaukee County Research Park's Technology Innovation Center, one of the largest high-tech incubators in the country, is specifically designed to provide laboratory and office space, networking opportunities and other critical services for biotech and information technology start-ups. It currently serves more than 40 tenant companies with 230 employees.
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY FIRMS
| COMPANY | PRODUCTS | TOTAL EMPLOYEES | LOCAL EMPLOYMENT |
| Abbott Laboratories | Human and veterinary pharmaceutical products, diagnostic assays and nutritional products | 72,000 | 2,400 |
| Cambridge Major Laboratories | Custom synthesis of API, specialty reagents and fine chemicals | 160 | 140 |
| Criticare Systems | Anesthesia monitors, vital sign monitors and pulse oximeters | 90 | 90 |
| Gauthier Biomedical | Design and manufacture custom orthopedic and spinal surgical instruments | 105 | 105 |
| GE Healthcare Technologies | Medical imaging, information and diagnostic technologies | 46,000 | 6,000 |
| Hospira | Medication delivery systems, specialty injectable pharmaceuticals and critical care devices | 14,000 | 500 |
| Mortara Instrument | ECG signal processing hardware/software | 180 | 130 |
| MRPC | Medical device raw material and product development | 150 | 150 |
| RF Technologies | Radio frequency identification for health care | 55 | 55 |
| Thermo Fisher Scientific Milwaukee | Synthesis, modification, labeling and detection of nucleic acids | 30,000 | 45 |
| Vesta | Medical, aerospace and food components and devices | 325 | 325 |