J. Michael (Mike) Bowman, associate director of the University of Delaware’s Office of Economic Innovation and Partnerships, has been appointed by President Biden to the White House Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations. 

Bowman, who also is CEO and president of Delaware Technology Park and state director of the Delaware Small Business Development Center, was among nine individuals selected to join the committee, which provides overall policy advice to the United States Trade Representative on matters related to the development, implementation and administration of U.S. trade policy. 

The committee is composed of up to 45 members with expertise in general trade, investment and development issues, including representatives of non-federal governments, labor, industry, agriculture, small business, service industries, retailers, nongovernmental environmental and conservation organizations, and consumer interests.

Over the past 25 years, Bowman has focused on growing a robust technology-based, entrepreneurial ecosystem in Delaware and the surrounding region. He is widely known as a connector, a multiplier with a knack for bringing people and places together toward a common purpose.

In his role as OEIP associate director, Bowman has been instrumental in stimulating innovation and economic growth within UD and across the state. As state director of Delaware Small Business Development Center, which is hosted in UD’s Office of Economic Innovation and Partnerships, Bowman has worked to help small businesses in the state access advisement services, funding, training and growth opportunities. Small businesses comprise 98.6% of all businesses in Delaware. Through his leadership, Delaware SBDC helps advise over 800 businesses annually, including 45 new business starts. 

As the president and CEO of Delaware Technology Park (DTP), Bowman has developed the physical infrastructure and resources to assist technology-based businesses and entrepreneurs in the life sciences to get started and expand. Today, over 20 years later, that resource is a strategic economic driver in Delaware that has led to the launch of nearly 200 companies — four of which have gone public — and over 16,000 jobs, as well as research resources and educational training opportunities with the ability to impact future innovators, including students, through partnership with UD. This includes an incubator space, known as DTP@STAR, where early-stage startups have access to advanced wet-lab facilities and other infrastructure as they grow their businesses.

Bowman also plays a key role in supporting the development and growth of UD’s Science, Technology and Advanced Research (STAR) Campus. For example, he has been an important partner in the development of the FinTech Innovation Hub, which brings together industry, academia and small businesses together around efforts to improve financial health and equity of populations with low-to-moderate income.

During his time with the DuPont Company, Bowman served in a variety of R&D, manufacturing and business leadership roles in the areas of polymer and fiber-based product organizations. Prior to leaving DuPont, he was vice president and general manager for E.I. duPont de Nemours, where he led an advanced materials systems business unit that developed over 40 new technologies for commercialization.

Bowman is past president and board member of AURP, the Association of University Research Parks. His other current or previous board memberships include First State Innovation, Fraunhofer USA, Delaware BioScience Association, Veroha and the University of Delaware’s College of Engineering Advisory Council (chairman). 

His extensive leadership, vision and sustained support of small business and economic development has resulted in many career honors. A few examples include recognition by the World Trade Center Association for innovation and economic development, earning vision and career achievement awards from the AURP and being selected for the Small Business Association’s Masley Champion award, which honors individuals or companies that create positive change for the community. 

Locally, Bowman is a member of the Delaware Business Hall of Fame and was awarded the Entrepreneurial Advocate of the Year by the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce. He also was recognized by his alma mater, the University of Cincinnati’s College of Engineering, with the Distinguished Alumni Award.

He earned a bachelor of science in chemical engineering from the University of Cincinnati and holds finance, marketing and graduate certificates from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, Columbia University and the American Management Association.