Bioscience Industry

Prince Edward Island offers a vibrant and innovative community for research and development.

There is considerable focus and energy being directed to the PEI bioscience sector from within industry, government, and academia. Entrepreneurs from across the globe are realizing that Prince Edward Island is a land of opportunity and there is significant commitment and drive aiding commercial success.

From multi-national corporations to small and medium enterprises, contract research organizations and contract manufacturing organizations, the foundations for a strong bio-platform and the desire to make it work can be found on Prince Edward Island.

With over 2,100 employees in the Bioscience Sector and over 60 companies, there has never been a better opportunity to be a big fish in a small, dynamic pond.

PEI's strength lies in its focus and collaborative, partnership-based approach. The Island has internationally recognized expertise and infrastructure related to the following key sectors:

• natural product, bioactive based, discovery and development for personal care, nutrition and cosmetics;
• treatment of diseases of aging and obesity, infection and immunity;
• ag-bio and specialty oils;
• animal and human health products, including a focus on fish health; and
• contract manufacturing and diagnostics.

PEI's value proposition is focused on reduced risk product development and commercialization. The province is keen on creating an environment which leads to a shorter time to market for new products.

The complete package

Prince Edward Island offers a competitive business location by way of costs, access to infrastructure and experience. Our ability to attract and retain world class talent is important to our bioscience sector companies and it is an area where we have had much success. There is a quality of life in PEI that is second to none.

Outstanding support for innovation-based research and development

Forget the red tape and get ready to grow. PEI's size and interconnectedness allows for unrivaled action and fast decision making. You need access to key decision-makers - can you be there in 15 minutes? Connecting businesses, scientists, and government at this level creates an ideal springboard for innovation and evolving business propositions.

Only in Prince Edward Island have these same decision-makers, both at the provincial and federal level, put in place a ground-breaking, model-shifting program. The support it provides makes PEI one of the best locations in North America for bioscience.

The BioCommons Research Park

The BioCommons Research Park spreads across 65 acres and provides centralized manufacturing scale up, technology and infrastructure to accelerate products through the development cycle and into the marketplace. Expansion of the BioCommons Industrial park continues to include new businesses, accelerators and incubators to help more companies commercialize state-of-the-art products.

Emergence

Emergence is a bioscience incubator specializing in helping Atlantic Canadian startups and early-stage companies move from research and technology development to commercial success. Emergence provides companies with business incubation services including the Critical Path mentorship program, business strategy and advisory services, as well as access to networks and resources.

Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences

The Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) is a first-of-its-kind partnership between academia, industry, and government to address the future skills needs of the Canadian life sciences sector. CASTL delivers on the economic and sectoral demand for individuals who are work-ready to enter, thrive and meet the needs of the Canadian bioscience industry, a key pillar of our economy. It offers multiple applied learning streams and pathways for individuals to acquire the academic knowledge, and technical and professional skills to have a successful career in life sciences.

Garden of the Gulf

Prince Edward Island is well known for its ample source of agriculture, fisheries, and aquaculture products. Bioscience companies will find highly knowledgeable and forward thinking farmers and fishers with which to partner in sourcing inputs for new bioscience products.

A highly-skilled workforce

The Holland College Centre for Applied Science and Technology will provide additional education and training opportunities for people working in this growing sector.

Prince Edward Island has an excellent reputation for its dedicated, loyal, and highly skilled workforce. In the bioscience sector, the Island's ability to attract and retain a skilled workforce is built upon:

• a highly educated local work force;
• specialized post-secondary programs such as those within the Atlantic Veterinary College, UPEI's School of Business, or Holland College; and
• the magnetic effect of having a base of world class researchers and companies in Prince Edward Island that attract other highly skilled employees to work in increasingly diverse job opportunities within the cluster.

Excellence in research institutions and infrastructure

World-class knowledge-based infrastructure and equipment to support the ongoing growth of the bioscience sector can be found at institutions such as:

• Agriculture and AgriFood Canada Crops and Livestock Centre
• NRC Aquatic and Crop Resource Development Research Centre
• Canada's Smartest Kitchen
• BIO|FOOD|TECH
• University of Prince Edward Island

For more information, contact the Bioscience business development professionals at Innovation PEI.