Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh said Wednesday that he would push to expand the life sciences industry in the city, but also work with other communities to fuel industry growth in the region.

“We are home to the best hospitals and universities,’’ Walsh told about 280 people at a policy leadership breakfast sponsored by the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council. “We have Vertex on the waterfront. We have Dana-Farber expanding in Longwood. And we need to continue that growth and expansion, not only in Boston, but in the region.’’

Walsh, who took office earlier this month, said that he would seek not only to expand the Innovation District in South Boston, but he would work to attract medical device manufacturing to create jobs in low-income areas such as Dudley Square.


The mayor said he had begun talking with MassBio president Robert K. Coughlin about putting together a team to press the manufacturing initiative.

“As mayor of the City of Boston, I’m ready to move forward with this partnership,’’ Walsh told the life sciences executives.