World-class Technology Clusters across Canada
World-class regional technology clusters support the growth of innovative companies around R&D; facilities such as those found in universities and leading-edge government laboratories. Following is an overview of these clusters and their unique benefits.
The presence of clusters fosters innovation and growth. Canada has a number of clusters renowned for biotech excellence, including:
Toronto Biotechnology Overview
- Largest cluster of biomedical and biotechnology companies in Canada; over 40 per cent of Canada's biotech industry is located in the Greater Toronto Area
- Ranked the second in cost-advantage among large international cities with metro area populations of more than two million
- Business costs, for the biotech sector, more than 10 per cent below the U.S. average
- Medical research output second only to Boston, U.S.
- In job terms, has the single largest biomedical and biotechnology cluster of any metropolitan area in North America
- Renowned worldwide for its strengths in bioinformatics and genomics
- Offers a sound research and development base. For example, the Joseph and Wolf Lebovic Centre for Human Genome Research and Molecular Medicine is the largest of its kind in Canada and one of only a few in the world
- Fourth-largest medical community in North America, with almost 100 hospitals and research institutes
- Focus on research in biomaterials, biomedical engineering, cancer, cardiovascular disease, central nervous system disorders, human genomics, organ transplantation, and women's health
- Canada 's corporate capital and financial centre, providing an extensive range of investment opportunities and services
Sources: City of Toronto biotechnology site,
Strategis, and 2004 KPMG Competitive Alternatives
Biotechnology in Montreal
- Has the highest cost advantage among large international cities with metro area populations of more than two million
- Business costs for the biotech sector lower than the U.S. average by approximately 17 per cent
- Home to almost 70 per cent of Quebec's biotechnology companies, mostly related to the pharmaceutical industry
- Nearly every large global pharmaceutical company has a presence in Montreal
- Continues to lead in research and development in the areas of neurology, oncology, cardiovascular disease, virology, epidemiology, and immunology
- The four local universities and 125 public and parapublic research centres provide a solid R&D; infrastructure with access to state-of-the-art equipment
- The biopharmaceutical industry grew by 9.8 per cent over 2002
Sources: Montreal International,
2004 KPMG Competitive Alternatives, and Strategis
Biotech in Vancouver
- Hub of British Columbia's biotechnology sector, with strengths in the areas of health and genomics research
- One of the fastest-growing biotech regions in North America. Between 1991 and 2001, 60 biotech companies were founded in Vancouver, placing the city third in North America, with only San Francisco and Boston having founded more companies in that period
- Witnessed astounding growth in venture capital investment in biotechnology - VC investment increased to U.S. $106,503,000 in 2001 from U.S. $16,604,000 in 1998
Sources: Vancouver Economic Development Commission, Strategis
Guelph
- Core strengths include agricultural biotechnology, molecular transgenics, plant and animal genomics, bioproducts, and functional foods and nutraceuticals
- Boasts commercialisation centres and research parks, like the University of Guelph Research Park which houses 30 bio-science organizations
- Recognised leader in biomass conversion
- World renowned research and development facilities, including University of Guelph Research Centres, Ontario Agriculture College, Ontario Veterinary College, and Guelph Food Technology Centre among others
- A new state-of-the-art biotech facility called the Guelph Technology Commercialisation Centre, to help provide all the resources a biotech start-up company would need
Sources: Southwestern Ontario Biotechnology,
Strategis, City of Guelph Biotechnology Site
Hamilton
- Demonstrated cutting-edge approach and success in drug discovery and evaluation, gene therapy, clinical trials and health economics
- World renowned health-related expertise in infectious and respiratory diseases, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes
- Access to research, commercialisation, and technical assistance - research facilities include Institute for Molecular Medicine and Health, Antimicrobial Research Centre, Centre for Gene Therapeutics, Population Health Research Institute and so on
- Financing available from institutions that provide capital to fund both development and expansion
- Research park - the Hamilton Incubator of Technology
Sources: City of Hamilton, Southwest Ontario Biotechnology,
Strategis
London
- As a centre of excellence for biomedical technology, core strengths include advanced robotic surgery, advanced imaging, stem cell research, xenotransplantation immunology, and clinical trials
- Over 20,000 people employed in hospitals and research institutions, including over 2,000 researchers
- Commercialisation centres and research parks: Stiller Biotechnology Commercialisation Centre and the University of Western Ontario Research Park
- Major research institutes, including the Robarts Research Institute which is Canada's largest privately operated and directed medical research centre
- Leading developments, such as the London Regional Innovarium and the Canadian Surgical Technologies & Advanced Robotics centre
Sources: London Economic Development Corporation Life Sciences site,
, Strategis
Ottawa
- Perfect environment for the growth of biotechnology and biomedical activities, as 90 per cent of all of Canada's industrial telecommunications R&D; is conducted here
- More than $350 million invested annually in local research and development projects
- Research in bioinformatics, stem cells and regenerative medicine, drug discovery, medical devices, bioproducts, and convergent technologies
- Leading developments include the formation of the Advanced Biophotonics Consortium and $500 million for new life sciences infrastructure
- Sound research infrastructure, with two of the National Research Council's research centres being located here
- Commercialisation centres: the Ottawa Life Sciences Technology Park and Ottawa Biotechnology Incubation Centre
Sources: Strategis
Saskatoon
- Recognized as one of the top agricultural biotechnology centres in the world
- Excellent research infrastructure, with the Innovation Place Research Park and the University of Saskatchewan
- Largest science project in Canada - Canadian Light Source Synchrotron
Sources: Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority,
Strategis
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