Special report
By Gail Garland, CEO, Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization
ONTARIO
OBIO’s ‘Innovation in Action’ Draws Crowds at Queen’s Park On April 11, 2016: Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization (OBIO®) hosted its annual Queen’s Park Advocacy Day attracting an impressive 150 attendees including 50 elected officials. High profile meetings with the Premier and key Ministers took place throughout the day followed by a reception which raised awareness of the health science industry and showcased 15 health science companies including several from among OBIO’s CAAP entrepreneurs. Politicians from all Parties interacted with innovative health technologies being developed in Ontario and engaged with over 60 company representatives. OBIO’s All-Party MPP Health Science Caucus was on hand to share their enthusiasm for the industry and support the sector. The theme for the day grew out of the Ontario Highlights of OBIO’s 2016 report “How Canada Should be Engaging in a $9 Trillion Dollar Health Economy”. OBIO consulted with 125 CEOs from the human health industry on the future of the global healthcare economy, Canada’s opportunities and ideas to ensure our industry is competitive, as well as innovative. Winning global jurisdictions/environments were characterized by their market opportunities and processes, agility, expertise and science and by data and analytics infrastructure accelerating discovery, development and commercialization. Currently, Canada and Ontario have competitive, well educated workforce, tax policies, clinical trial capabilities and federal regulatory agency but we need to pay attention in other areas. OBIO’s policy recommendations address procurement and market access issues, capital for Ontario companies, globally competitive tax policies, building an experienced workforce through job creation and revisions to Government programs. The potential to offset growing demand and rising health care costs through commercial enterprise and exports, represents a compelling reason for a strong healthcare industry. Further, the commercialization of health technology is an opportunity to diversify Canada’s economy, create quality jobs and to ensure our highly educated workforce can stay here and build a future. OBIO delivered this message on behalf of industry to a receptive audience at Queen’s Park. “OBIO’s Provincial Advocacy Day was the first phase of a larger initiative.” said Gail Garland, President and CEO of OBIO. “We have spent the last 9 months consulting with 125 CEOs from industry to look at the future of the global industry, identify the opportunities for Ontario and Canada and make recommendations to ensure we derive the economic and patient benefits from competing successfully on the world stage.
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Biotechnology Focus / June/July 2016
“Ontario is a leader in life sciences. We are proud to foster a diverse economic climate for businesses to thrive and bring new products to market. That is why I was thrilled to meet with members of OBIO to advance our shared commitment to health care innovation and job creation in this vital sector.” — Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario, MPP Don Valley West
We look forward to engaging with visionary stakeholders as we translate this information into action.” In addition to his address to the crowd at the reception, Minister Moridi had this to say about the event:
“I would like to congratulate OBIO on its successful inaugural Queen’s Park Advocacy Day and their investments in Ontario’s life sciences companies over the past five years. Our government is committed to ensuring that Ontario’s world-class life sciences research is translated into innovative products and successful companies. Our government is proud to have supported OBIO’s efforts in helping promising companies become investment-ready.” — Reza Moridi, Minister of Research and Innovation MPP Richmond Hill The Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization (OBIO®) is a not-for-profit, membership-based organization engaged in the development of an integrated health innovation economy for Ontario and one that will become a global leader in providing health technology products and services to the international marketplace. OBIO advances this goal through advocacy, promotion and strategic leadership and via collaborative partnerships with industry, academia, patients and government. For more information please visit www.obio.ca and follow OBIO on Twitter @OBIOscience
