Overview of Canada’s Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy

Ensuring access to critical vaccines, therapeutics and other life-saving medicines is a priority for the Government of Canada. While Canada continues to respond to the current pandemic, we are also implementing a biomanufacturing and life sciences strategy to plan for the future.

Read the full Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy.

The Strategy consists of 5 pillars to strengthen Canada's biomanufacturing and life sciences sector and is driven by 2 objectives:

  1. Growing a strong, competitive domestic life sciences sector with cutting edge biomanufacturing capabilities
  2. Ensuring preparedness for pandemics or other health emergencies.

This strategy has been directly shaped by external advice, from the Vaccine Task Force (VTF), the Therapeutics Task Force, and the Joint Biomanufacturing Subcommittee. In addition, ISED, Health Canada, PHAC and members of the VTF held stakeholder consultations on rebuilding the domestic biomanufacturing and life sciences sector based on the document Considering the creation of new biomanufacturing capacity for Canada. Established in March 2023, the Council of Expert Advisors also provides strategic advice to adapt the Strategy to new technologies and changing conditions in the marketplace and life sciences ecosystem. 

Together, the Strategy's 5 pillars will achieve meaningful results for Canadians.

Collaborate

The Government of Canada is committed to improving our capacity to produce "Made in Canada" vaccines, therapeutics and other life-saving medicines. Through strong governance, and effective collaboration with stakeholders in government agencies, industry and academia, we are building capacity to ensure that Canada's biomanufacturing and life science sector is at the cutting edge, and ready to respond to future health priorities.

Lay the foundation

Strengthening research systems and talent pipelines through our investment in post-secondary institutions and affiliated research hospitals is a key to innovation for biomanufacturing and life sciences. Canadian scientists need high-performance tools and innovative research spaces to bring their ideas to life. Canada is investing in research to drive innovation, increase expertise, and improve our pandemic readiness.

Grow the business

Building Canada's domestic capabilities in biomanufacturing and life sciences will help improve our readiness and self-reliance in responding to future health emergencies. Bolstering investment in existing and emerging areas of Canadian strength in the industry will contribute to Canada's economic growth, create good jobs, and increase Canada's contributions to the development of the next generation of medicines.

Building public capacity

The construction of the Biologics Manufacturing Centre on the NRC's Royalmount Ave site in Montréal is a key element to increase Canada's domestic biomanufacturing capacity. This new end-to-end biomanufacturing facility will be used to manufacture vaccines and other biologics.

Once operational and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)-certified, the Biologics Manufacturing Centre will:

  • support the manufacturing of vaccine candidates and/or biologics in response to the current and future pandemics
  • ensure Canada is prepared to safely manufacture large quantities of vaccines using good manufacturing practices
  • ensure the Government of Canada will have domestic supply and access to future vaccines in Canada for Canadians
  • support the growth of Canada's biomanufacturing production capacity, knowledge transfer and collaboration

The Government of Canada is also supporting other construction projects to improve Canada's biomanufacturing capabilities.

Enable

Canada will continue to leverage its best-in-class regulatory system to support increased innovation, and world-class expertise and infrastructure for clinical trials. Support in health innovation from discovery to application will make Canada a more attractive destination for biomanufacturing and life sciences ecosystem companies.

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