Investment Opportunities, Development Activity, Berkeley Innovation Outlook

The City of Berkeley Office of Economic Development has organized a Berkeley Innovation Asset Tour series to expose new Berkeley City Councilmembers and other City leaders to some of the most important programs and facilities spurring the local innovation ecosystem. Just this month, Mayor Adena Ishii,
Councilmembers Terry Taplin (District 2), Igor Tregub (District 4) Brent Blackaby (District 6), Cecilia Lunaparra (District 7), City Manager Paul Buddenhagen, and a representative from District 5 Councilmember Shoshana O’Keefe’s office toured Bakar Bio Labs and the UC Berkeley Entrepreneurship Hub. 

Next Tuesday, March 25, Berkeley City Council will hold a public hearing regarding the establishment of a Manufacturing, Research & Development (M-RD) zoning district to encourage redevelopment of a 11.5 acre site in West Berkeley at the former Berkeley Forge & Tool and Pacific Steel Casting plant (at Gilman Street and Eastshore Highway in West Berkeley).

The new “M-RD” zoning district should enable a wide range of modern manufacturing activities.

See Item 8 (the first on the Action calendar) on the March 25 City Council agenda to learn more or submit a comment on the topic.

THIS THURSDAY, March 20, 8:00 am - 12pm
DoubleTree Berkeley Marina

What major developments are in the Berkeley pipeline? How are evolving capital markets impacting the ability to finance deals in Berkeley? How are industry leaders working to build strong relationships with the local stakeholders?

Learn the answer to these questions and more about trends impacting commercial real estate and lab development in Berkeley at Bisnow's Berkeley Commercial Real Estate State of the Market Conference.

See the full speak lineup and register to attend here.

Wednesday, March 26, 5:00-7:00 pm
Revival Bar+Kitchen, 2102 Shattuck Ave. Berkeley 94704

Before the Bioneers Conference kicks off, join Women in Cleantech & Sustainability and Women Entrepreneurs of Berkeley for a relaxed and friendly Empower Her Hour. You’ll have the opportunity to network with professionals in the cleantech and sustainability sector, share ideas and discuss innovations shaping our green future, and enjoy delicious drinks and sustainability-focused cuisine crafted by Chef Amy Murray.

Register here.  Use code BIO20 to receive 20% off your ticket.

Thursday, March 27, 5:00 pm
Oakland Scottish Rite Center, 1547 Lakeside Drive Oakland, CA

The East Bay is a world-class leader when it comes to innovation and entrepreneurship. Often referred to as the “Academy Awards of the East Bay,” the East Bay Innovation Awards is the premier program of its kind that celebrates and honors the extraordinary companies and organizations that contribute to the East Bay’s legacy of innovation. For over a decade, the annual awards ceremony has showcased outstanding organizations that embrace innovation in their manufacturing, products, services, design, and information.

Congrats to Berkeley companies Activate Berkeley, Rebuilding Together East Bay Network and AsparaGlue for getting selected as finalists for a 2025 East Bay Innovation Award!

Purchase tickets to join the celebration.

March 27-29, 2025
Downtown Berkeley, CA

The Bioneers Conference, one of the pre-eminent eco-themed gatherings in the nation, now in its 36th year, will bring thousands of attendees to Downtown Berkeley with a wide array of presentations, panel discussions, performances, films, networking events, and more. Keynote speakers and panels cover a broad spectrum of topics, including climate activism, clean energy, regenerative food systems, and much more. 

Register to attend with discount code Biopartner25 for 20% off the listed ticket price.

Friday, April 18 12pm-2pm
Berkeley City Club 2315 Durant Avenue

Join the Berkeley Chamber for Berkeley Today and Tomorrow 2025, a dynamic discussion and luncheon featuring Mayor Adena Ishii and UC Berkeley Chancellor Richard K. Lyons in a conversation on building a stronger, more connected Berkeley. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with local leaders and be part of the conversation shaping our city's future

Reserve your seat today!

Wednesday, April 23, 9:00 am-2:00 pm
Aquatic Park Reseach Campus, 717 Potter Street Berkeley, CA

Wareham Development invites STEM companies to join them in bringing the Berkeley LAB K-12 STEM team and local high school students to its Aquatic Park Research Campus in West Berkeley on April 23 for another STEM Career Day.

To participate, or for more information, email Wareham Development's Judy Wetterer.

Project Onramp, a program of Life Science Cares, provides access to paid summer internships for undergraduate students who are recipients of Pilgrim Grants, helping to bridge the opportunity gap for these promising young individuals. Project Onramp host companies commit or create internships for high-performing students, not limited to STEM-related roles. The program matches companies with talented candidates with interest in business development, administration, HR, finance, IT, marketing, and more, leveraging companies' existing review and hiring processes. There is no cost to the program, other than the requirement to offer a paid summer internship.

Learn more about the program and how they can help you find a summer intern.

Berkeley’s startup Copper is manufacturing a new electric stove that plugs into a normal wall outlet! Their stoves are an innovative way to lessen carbon emissions from cooking, improve indoor air quality and cook without incurring peak-rate electrical charges,

Read more from the AP News.

Nosis Bio, a Bakar Labs startup developing new ways to deliver RNA therapies to specific cells, has struck partnerships with two pharma companies that together could be worth more than $1.5 billion. Daiichi Sankyo and Johnson & Johnson have turned to the startup for help designing gene-silencing siRNA drugs that can treat chronic diseases affecting cells outside of the liver, the organ that most RNA drug development has focused on so far.

Read more on the Bakar Labs news page, based on the article in Endpoints News.

The first tenant in the Bakar Climate Labs pilot program, Future Bio, is producing biorenewable plastics that are “up to 95% recyclable.” 

Read more in Tech Brew.