This document discusses STEM education programs supported by PhRMA member companies. It finds that over 30 PhRMA member programs focus on increasing diversity in STEM fields. These programs have impacted over 1.6 million students and 17,500 teachers over the last 5 years. However, U.S. students lag behind globally in science and math test scores, and the U.S. now ranks 20th in STEM degrees awarded. To maintain its position of innovation leadership, the U.S. needs to produce 1 million more STEM graduates over the next decade. PhRMA members support over 90 STEM programs through funding, scholarships, and hands-on learning to help address this need.

1. To Develop Tomorrow’s New Medicines
Building a 21st
Century Workforce
1+2
PhRMA Member Companies Support
STEM Programs Across the U.S.
Impact & Reach
OVER 30 PHRMA MEMBER PROGRAMS
ARE FOCUSING ON INCREASING
DIVERSITY IN STEM FIELDS.
Key Report Findings: Biopharmaceutical Industry Advancing STEM5
STEM workforce is vital to the future of U.S. economy and global
competitiveness – STEM workers account for over 50% of the nation’s
sustained economic growth.1
STEM workforce is particularly important to biopharmaceutical
manufacturing, which has 5X greater concentration of STEM jobs
compared to rest of economy.2
U.S. high school students rank 28th
in science and 36th
in math among
65 countries. Shanghai currently ranks 1st
for both subjects.3
Once a leader in STEM education, the U.S. now ranks 20th
among all
nations in proportion of degrees awarded in science and engineering
fields—Japan and China award twice the U.S. share.4
As other countries continue to make substantial investments in growing
their STEM talent, U.S. investments in STEM education continue to
decline, risking our position as the global innovation leader.
State of STEM Education in U.S.
Total number of
STEM programs
supported
Number of
employee
volunteers
Number of
employee hours
volunteered
Percentage of
Industry-sponsored
STEM programs
focused on K-12
Number of
individual
STEM-related
grants awarded
Total STEM
education program
funding provided
$100M4,500 27,000 85% 60090
PhRMA member companies and their foundations support over 90 STEM programs
focused on both students and teachers.
Support ranges from funding third-party STEM education initiatives, to supporting STEM
scholarships, and providing hands-on learning opportunities in company laboratories.
Member companies sponsor 14 national-level programs, with additional local-level
programs being supported in 26 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, with a larger
concentration of activity in states with deeper industry presence.
Over the last five years, PhRMA member
company STEM programs have impacted over
1.6 million students and 17,500 teachers.
85% of programs are focused on the way K-12
STEM education is taught in the U.S. by engaging
younger students and early education teachers.
U.S. needs to produce 1 million
additional STEM graduates over
the next decade to maintain its
position as the world’s leader
in science and technology
innovation.
--PCAST
Source: President’s Council of Advisors on Science and
Technology, “Engage to Excel: Producing One Million
Additional College Graduates with Degrees in Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics,” February 2012.
1
U.S. Department of Labor, “The STEM Workforce Challenge: The Role of the Public Workforce System in a
National Solution for a Competitive Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Workforce,” April 2007.
2
Battelle Analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics data, 2012.
3
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Programme for International Student Assessment
(PISA), 2013.
4
National Science Board, “Science and Engineering Indicators 2012.”
5
Battelle Technology Partnership Practice, "STEM: Building a 21st Century Workforce to Develop Tomorrow's New
Medicines," January 2014. Data includes activities supported by PhRMA member companies or their foundations.