Growing domestic biomanufacturing & life sciences sector

New multidisciplinary projects across the country will prepare Canada for future health emergencies and build capacity

Montréal – Growing a robust, competitive, domestic biomanufacturing and life sciences sector ensures that Canada has access to critical vaccines, therapeutics and other life-saving medicines. The Government of Canada has been doing just that since the launch of Canada’s Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy in 2021 with a $2.2 billion commitment to develop cutting-edge biomanufacturing capabilities.

Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, on behalf of François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, and Mark Holland, Minister of Health, announced nearly $574 million in funding for 19 projects at 14 research institutions across Canada, through Stage 2 of the integrated Canada Biomedical Research Fund (CBRF) and Biosciences Research Infrastructure Fund (BRIF) competition.

Through these investments in research, talent and infrastructure projects, Canadians will have access to made-in-Canada vaccines, therapeutics and other life-saving medicines and innovations. This will help strengthen the resilience of Canada’s life sciences sector by supporting leading Canadian research in innovative technologies that keep us safe and boost our economy.

Projects receiving funding aim at:

• enhancing antibody discovery and therapeutics production;
• developing and optimizing self-amplifying RNA vaccines;
• establishing better rapid diagnostic tools that can identify emerging pathogens;
• leveraging artificial intelligence and other technologies to study how bacteria react to chemicals, with the goal of developing new antibiotics; and
• establishing a leading, national maternal-child health resource for disease surveillance and pandemic preparedness.

Each of the 19 projects is endorsed by one of the five research hubs that were established in Stage 1 of the CBRF-BRIF competition. These hubs combine the strengths of Canada’s postsecondary institutions and research hospitals, industry and the not-for-profit sector to jointly improve health emergency preparedness and the overall health and well-being of Canadians. In addition, the hubs will help accelerate the translation of promising research into commercially viable products and processes. By strengthening research capacity and leveraging collaborations across the entire biomanufacturing ecosystem, Canada will be better prepared to face future pandemics.