The life sciences sector is a key area of growth in Winnipeg and Manitoba. The life sciences sector broadly represents the activities and capabilities in biotechnology and health research which are heavily concentrated in Winnipeg. Based on Statistics Canada data, estimates for this sector (including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, health research and medical devices) is over 4,000 jobs in Winnipeg.

Life Sciences Sector Profile

Manitoba is home to 8% of national biotech activity, more than double its share of Canada’s population. Winnipeg has the fifth largest biotech and health research sector in Canada and is one of the fastest growing. An independently sponsored analysis showed, three of Canada’s “Top 10 Emerging Biotechnology Companies” are based in Winnipeg.

The foundation of Winnipeg’s biotech and health research sector is the strong research infrastructure comprised of the University of Manitoba and 30 research and development institutions in the Winnipeg region.

Winnipeg’s health research infrastructure is anchored by the Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health, Canada’s only Level 4 biocontainment laboratory. The National Research Council Institute for Biodiagnostics, the most advanced facility in Canada for studying and developing noninvasive diagnostic tools such as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Magnetic Resonance Imaging technologies, is also located in Winnipeg.

Winnipeg is one of the main pillars of the new Public Health Agency of Canada, and is home to the International Centre for Infectious Diseases. The Public Health Agency of Canada creates pan-Canadian approaches and effective responses to public health emergencies. Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer is based in Winnipeg.

Other institutions, such as the St. Boniface General Hospital Research Centre and the University of Manitoba, provide world expertise in cardiovascular and clinical research. Winnipeg’s Health Sciences Centre is the largest health care referral, teaching and research centre in Manitoba and one of the largest facilities of its kind in Canada. It is affiliated with the University of Manitoba and CancerCare Manitoba.

As Canada’s agri-business centre, Winnipeg also has many synergies between biotech and research done in agricultural and life sciences disciplines. The Canadian Centre for Agri-Food Research in Health and Medicine and Cereal Research Centre at the University of Manitoba, is Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s lead centre for cereal genomics. Winnipeg’s growing functional foods industry is led by the new Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals at the University of Manitoba’s Smartpark.

Winnipeg is also Western Canada’s leading pharmaceutical manufacturing centre. Cangene Corporation is a world-leading pharmaceutical company in specialty hyper-immune plasma and biotech products. Apotex Fermentation’s facility in Winnipeg is the largest fermentation based production facility in Canada. Bioval Corporation’s Steinbach facility holds the world manufacturing mandate for a number of oral controlled-released drug products.

Industry Partner Links

• LSAM

• Innovation, Energy and Mines

• Richardson Centre For Nutraceuticals

• NRC