Innovative Leader
Compiled by Shawn Lawrence and MRI
Q&A
with Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation Deputy Minister George Ross Biotechnology Focus: What is Ontario’s focus this year at BIO and why?
George Ross
Ontario
As a lead up to BIO 2011, we had the chance to sit down with Ontario’s Deputy Minister of Research and Innovation George Ross for a little Q&A to discuss his Ministry’s polices and programs in the life sciences and biotechnology space; and what’s in store going forward.
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Biotechnology Focus / June 2011
Deputy Minister George Ross: The focus this year is on “Innovations in Healthy Aging”. Across the globe, health policy advisors, healthcare providers and industry leaders are seeking novel solutions to meeting the significant challenges of a rapidly growing aging population. In Ontario, the number of seniors is expected to double over the next 20 years. By 2031 there will be nine million seniors aged 65 or older in Canada — accounting for 25 per cent of the total population. Ontario has a great head start in tackling the issues of greying populations around the world, while bringing economic prosperity to our province. Our government has made significant investments into agingrelated initiatives, including our support for the stem cell research at Mount Sinai Hospital, neuroscience work at the Ontario Brain Institute, cognitive expertise at the Centre for Brain Fitness at Baycrest. But, it’s also the hard work of folks like Dr. St George-Hyslop at U of T, who discovered the Alzheimer’s gene that is putting Ontario at the forefront in brain research and treatment. Institutions like MaRS and Baycrest who are global leaders in pushing innovation related to brain disease have partnered to create Cogniciti a company already helping an aging population stay mentally fit and sharp. Ontario’s plan is to leverage these strengths and build partnerships be-
tween industry and academic leaders to promote and commercialize technologies, innovative products/services and research initiatives to our advantage in the aging sector marketplace. So, we need to tell the world about all that we offer about our position as an international leader in aging-related technologies, goods and services to address the need for novel solutions to meeting the significant challenges of a rapidly aging population worldwide.
BF: Can you give a rundown of the current Ontario life science landscape? GR: Canada’s stable political and economic environment has allowed us to come through the global financial crisis in recent years ahead of our competitors. While we’re not immune to the challenges being faced by the global research-based pharmaceutical industry, we are well positioned to take advantage of emerging opportunities. Life sciences will be transformed in the coming decade as innovative researchers and companies solve some of the toughest challenges facing healthcare today. Ontario is very well positioned to address these challenges. For example, our long standing investments in basic research and commercialization means that Ontario has best-in-class infrastructure with which to compete. Our cost advantage also distinguishes us from our competitors in North America. Over 1 million square feet and over $1 billion in new research facilities have been built
