Throughout the current pandemic, Canada's bio-economy employers have been working tirelessly to bring an end to COVID-19 through their research and innovations. BioTalent Canada highlights news and success stories from their partners, wage subsidy employers, and additional industry updates, as they unfold.
News and Success of the Bio-economy During COVID-19
Articles appear in their language of publication.
The Ottawa Hospital partners with company to manufacture COVID-19 vaccine
February 26, 2021
New pathway to permanent residency for over 90,000 essential temporary workers and international graduates
April 14, 2021
BioTalent Canada Partners
Innovative Medicines Canada
- COVID-19 resource page
- April 1, 2020
Innovative Medicines Canada members donate 100,000 masks to help protect front-line healthcare workers battling COVID-19 - April 28, 2020
IMC members donate funds for protective equipment for Canada’s pharmacists
Stem Cell Network
BIOTECanada
- COVID-19 news and resource page
- June 1, 2020
Statement from BIOTECanada regarding PMPRB implementation delay
LifeSciences BC
- April 9, 2020
Call to action – COVID-19 all BC medical suppliers, laboratories and service providers
Bioscience Association Manitoba
BIOQuébec
- April 3, 2020
Survey of life sciences industry stakeholders on the COVID-19 crisis - June 3, 2020
Le gouvernement du Québec et le Fonds de solidarité FTQ investiront 150 M$ pour stimuler le secteur des sciences de la vie
STEMCELL Technologies
- April 7, 2020
STEMCELL Technologies Is an Essential Industry Partner for COVID-19 Research and Vaccine Development
Spartan Bioscience
- April 13, 2020
Spartan Bioscience receives Health Canada approval for fast, portable COVID-19 test - May 25, 2020
The University of Ottawa Health Institute Recieves Funding for COVID-19 Research using Spartan’s Test - January 23, 2021
Spartan Bioscience ‘lab-in-a-box’ test kit finally cleared for COVID-19 battle
IMV-Inc.
- March 30, 2020
IMV Inc. Provides Updates on the Development of DPX-COVID-19 Vaccine, Its Ongoing Business and Clinical Operations - April 30, 2020
Vaccine Candidate to Prevent COVID-19: Fonds de solidarité FTQ to Invest $7.5 Million in IMV - May 21, 2020
IMV Announces Selection of a Vaccine Candidate Against COVID-19 to Advance Into Human Clinical Studies - July 14, 2020
Nova Scotia lab gets green light to test COVID-19 vaccine on humans - August 5, 2020
IMV Receives Funding From Canadian Governmental Agencies for COVID-19 Vaccine Phase 1 Clinical Study
BioConnect
University of Ottawa
- June 26, 2020
U of O scientist seeking edible vaccine for COVID-19
University of Waterloo
Western/University of Waterloo
- April 28, 2020
Researchers crack COVID-19 genome signature - September 14, 2020
Waterloo launches Work-Learn Institute – a living lab for talent
University of British Columbia
- April 2, 2020
Trial drug can significantly block early stages of COVID-19 in engineered human tissues - May 21, 2020
UBC Researchers Develop Biodegradable Medical Mask for COVID-19 - July 22, 2020
UBC scientists sequencing the genomes of Canadians with COVID-19 - Emergency Medicine COVID-19 related research national network
- August 27, 2020
UBC researchers embark on first-in-Canada study for easing COVID-19 restrictions
BLG
Dalhousie University
- April 3, 2020
Dalhousie team uses 3D printing to build prototype for face shield - May 17, 2020
Clinical trials for potential coronavirus vaccine to be conducted by Halifax team
Seneca
University of Toronto
- April 20, 2020
University of Toronto to support high-impact coronavirus research projects through Toronto COVID-19 Action Fund - July 15, 2020
Canadian-made mask deactivates 99% of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, says U of T
BioNova
- April 14, 2020
Maritime businesses get help from BioNova to meet Health Canada’s rules on COVID-19 medical gear
PEI BioAlliance
- April 16, 2020
PEI Bioscience industry answers the call to battle COVID-19 - May 26, 2020
Bioscience sector makes growing impact on Prince Edward Island economy
Brock University
- June 5, 2020
Brock supports student employment during pandemic
University of Calgary
- June 8, 2020
UCalgary partners to produce life-saving ventilator for COVID-19 crisis - September 21, 2020
UCalgary alumna advances COVID-19 lab testing in Nigeria
University of Manitoba
- July 7, 2020
Scientists need to track genetic diversity of COVID-19 for effective vaccine: U of M study
McMaster University
- July 18, 2020
How COVID-19 has impacted McMaster University - February 10, 2021
McMaster HealthLabs (MHL) : a non-profit organization focused on curbing the human, economic and social costs of COVID-19 through research initiatives and testing solutions.
Therapure Biopharma
- August 18, 2020
Therapure Biomanufacturing Signs Manufacturing Deal With VBI Vaccines for Coronavirus Vaccine Candidates
Carleton University
- August 21, 2020
Carleton’s Alex Wong Works Toward Reusable Face Masks by Eliminating COVID-19 with Ultraviolet Light Technology
Ryerson University
- April 15, 2021
Ryerson researchers help identify an existing drug that can potentially treat COVID-19
BioTalent Canada Wage Subsidy Employers
AbCellera
- March 12, 2020
AbCellera and Lilly to Co-develop Antibody Therapies for the Treatment of COVID-19 - May 3, 2020
AbCellera Receives $175.6 Million from the Government of Canada to Discover Solutions for COVID-19 and Build a Manufacturing Facility for Antibody Drugs
Precision Biomonitoring
- April 10, 2020
Collaboration to Provide Rapid SARS-CoV-2 Go-Strips to Communities in Northern Ontario
Creative Destruction Lab
- CDL Recovery is focused on the full stack of information-based solutions to accelerate the world’s recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.
- May 28, 2020
Creative Destruction Lab Kicks Off Global Program to Address Global Crisis
Greenfield Global
- April 2, 2020
Greenfield Global Developing Innovative Solutions to Fight the Spread of COVID-19 - May 22, 2020
Greenfield Global Donating $400,000 to Help Local Communitites Facing COVID-19 Hardships - June 15, 2020
Longhorn Vaccines and Diagnostics LLC, and Greenfield Global INC. Partner to accelerate COVID-19 Testing and Detection
Georgian College
Trent University
- July 23, 2020
$4.8M federal funding for Trent University clean-tech centre will accelerate growth, create jobs
Orthopaedic Innovation Centre
3DQue Systems
- April 9, 2020
3D Printing Startup Delivers Vital Healthcare Equipment During Pandemic - September 14, 2020
Small business co-founded by Vancouver teen prints its way to success
Sanofi
- September 22, 2020
Sanofi and GSK sign agreements with the Government of Canada to supply up to 72 million doses of adjuvanted COVID-19 vaccine
Medicago
- October 23, 2020
Prime Minister announces funding to advance the development of Canadian COVID‑19 vaccine technologies
Additional Industry Updates
- April 15, 2020
Novo Nordisk makes insulin free for 90 days to diabetes patients affected by COVID-19 job losses - April 29, 2020
Crisis Sparks Manufacturing Collaboration – Atlantic Canada - April 30, 2020
Laval bio-science companies involved in COVID-19 research - May 11, 2020
Appili Therapeutics Submits CTA with Health Canada to Sponsor Prophylactic Phase 2 Clinical Trial Evaluating FUJIFILM Toyama Chemical’s Favipiravir as a Preventative Measure Against COVID-19 in Canadian Long-Term Care Facilities - May 20, 2020
New COVID-19 Government Support For Life Sciences Companies - May 21, 2020
Ontario Announces First Phase of Research Projects to Fight COVID-19 - June 8, 2020
Canadian life sciences companies collaborate on medical grade biotech mask for COVID-19 - June 25, 2020
Alberta COVID-19 vaccine advancing to human testing - July 23, 2020
Ontario Announces Five New Ontario Health Teams - July 24, 2020
Saskatoon-based lab closer to COVID-19 vaccine after breakthrough - August 14, 2020
Canadian Biotech JN Nova Pharma Inc. Partners with the Government of Canada to Develop Therapeutic Platform for COVID-19 - August 17, 2020
Biotech coalition hopes llama nanobodies hold key to COVID-19 treatment - Ontario COVID-19 Rapid Research Fund
- October 9, 2020
Federal government investing $13 million in GTA health tech, promising about 500 jobs - October 17, 2020
Pharmaceutical company Roche Canada to add up to 500 jobs to Mississauga operations - November 12, 2020
The Canadian connection to a promising COVID-19 vaccine - March 2, 2021
World’s Fastest COVID-19 Virus Detection Insta-Test: Results in Under 15 Seconds