Ones to watch: Life Sciences & Pharmaceuticals
Cutting-Edge Life Sciences
Canada’s thriving life sciences industry includes world-class research institutions, business incubators and healthcare institutions. It’s a big draw for global companies that have invested more than $4.8 billion in Canada’s life sciences industry since 2017.
Industry Spotlight
Canadian life sciences include research, development and manufacturing of medical devices, diagnostics, natural health products, and pharmaceuticals and biopharmaceuticals, such as vaccines.
Canada’s biotechnology sector is constantly pushing back the frontiers of knowledge. The economic benefits to Canadians from the industry are immense and a key driver of the country’s economy.
7th in the world on the 2021 Nature Index Source: Nature Index
5.3% growth in pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing in 2021 Source: Canada Real GDP by Industry
12,000 businesses in Canada’s bio-economy in 2019 Source: BioTalent Canada
200,000 jobs in 2019 Source: BioTalent Canada
$4.8 billion in investments since 2017
Source: fDi Markets and PitchBook
Retrieved: May 24, 2022
1,579 estimated new jobs in 2021
Source: fDi Markets and PitchBook
Retrieved: May 24, 2022
WHO’S WHO: 2021 life sciences investments in Canada
Together with our partners, Invest in Canada facilitated projects with global companies in Canadian life sciences in 2021. Here’s a sampling of investments that created over 800 announced jobs in the industry.
Delmar Chemicals
Type of investment: Centre of excellence for the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients
Novocol Pharma
Type of investment: Manufacturing facility expansion
Roche
Type of investment: Global pharma technical operations
Sanofi
Type of investment: Fluzone project
Siemens Healthineers
Type of investment: Manufacturing facility
What’s Happening: Life sciences & pharmaceuticals
Canada’s pharmaceutical industry is helping to drive our success as a global life sciences hub. The following R&D players are part of Canada’s thriving research ecosystem:
- The Prince Edward Island Bioscience Cluster researches, develops and commercializes bioactive-based health and nutrition products
- The Mississauga Life Sciences Cluster in Ontario includes over 470 life sciences companies supported by an ecosystem of healthcare, education and research centres
- The University of Calgary and Innovate Calgary’s Life Sciences Innovation Hub helps young companies access mentorship, advice and specialized equipment to move their research forward
- The Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute is recognized internationally for research excellence through its 15 major centres and programs
- Researchers at the Montreal Clinical Research Centre discovered an enzyme responsible for SARS-CoV-2 infection