Ontario Showcases Thriving Life Sciences Sector at BIO Digital

Province brings strong delegation and promotes Ontario to a global audience

The Voice of Canada News:

TORONTO – The Ontario government is bringing a delegation of 35 companies to the first-ever, fully digital Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) international conference, BIO Digital, where Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade will highlight the top reasons investors in the life sciences should choose Ontario.

Minister Fedeli, joined by Nina Tangri, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister, will lead the province’s delegation and promote Ontario as the premier destination for investment and trade in life sciences to a global audience.

“This delegation of 35 companies is our largest to BIO to-date, which speaks volumes to what an incredible opportunity this is for Ontario to showcase our thriving life sciences sector,” said Minister Fedeli. “More than ever, creative thinking in the life sciences sector will help us address the economic challenges we are facing today, and help lead to greater economic growth and prosperity in the future.”

Ontario’s life sciences sector is the largest in Canada, with about 1,900 firms including Sanofi, Roche, Apotex, BlueRock Therapeutics, Johnson & Johnson, and GSK.  It provides 66,000 high-value jobs in the province, with a yearly payroll of about $5 billion. In 2018, Ontario’s life sciences sector exported about $9.7 billion in goods, including essential vaccines, critical medicines and medical devices.  Ontario’s life sciences and digital strengths are converging, resulting in leading edge technology and services, such as Cyclica’s proprietary AI-augmented drug discovery platform, currently being applied to identify compounds for infectious diseases, including COVID-19.

The conference’s digital format presents a unique opportunity for Ontario’s 35 participating companies to meet with potential partners, industry leaders and deal makers from major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies around the world. Last year, Ontario led a delegation of 14 companies to the conference in Philadelphia.  

“We are proud to promote Ontario’s deep talent pool, cutting edge innovation ecosystem, competitive business costs, welcoming immigration system and unparalleled access to global markets,” said PA Tangri. “These advantages make our province an ideal partner for trade and investment and a destination for new ideas and technologies.”

Quick Facts

• Global leaders in the life sciences sector, including Sanofi, Apotex, Baxter, Roche, Johnson & Johnson, Takeda, BlueRock Therapeutics, Cyclica, Deep Genomics, GSK and GE Healthcare have operations in Ontario.
• BIO is the world’s largest biotechnology trade association, with members in more than 30 countries.
• To see who is participating in the Ontario Delegation to BIO Digital 2020, visit SourceFromOntario.com/BIODigital2020.