The future of health is in the Edmonton Region. Discover North America's emerging biotech hub.
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Life science companies in the Edmonton Region are part of a strong, growing, and tight-knit community working at the cutting edge of scientific breakthroughs.
Researchers in the Region are at the forefront of discoveries in diabetes, virology, precision health, artificial intelligence, and more. We are home to world-class research facilities including the Alberta Diabetes Institute, Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology (LKSIoV), the Cross Cancer institute, Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute, and more.
We are also home to Canada’s largest, fully integrated healthcare system, serving a diverse population of 4.3 million people – a valuable asset for clinical trials and real-world data. access.
The Edmonton Region is quickly emerging as a hub for life sciences companies who are looking at Canada as the next destination in their global expansion.
The cost of talent in the Edmonton Region is lower than other major Canadian cities.
Edmonton Research Park includes state-of-the-art wet lab space at competitive rates – and continues to expand to meet demand.
Alberta’s healthcare system offers an optimal network for clinical trials and access to real world data.
The Edmonton International Airport holds CEIV pharma certification, ensuring the efficient and safe transportation of pharmaceutical products.
From research, to drug manufacturing, to digital health – we’re doing all of that here.
Healthtech
Drug Research and Development
Pharmaceuticals
The Edmonton Region is a proven hub for pharmaceutical advancements and a prime location for your next investment. We’re home to a history of medical breakthroughs, including the globally adopted Edmonton Protocol for treating Type 1 diabetes and Canada’s largest biotech licensing deal, valued at a remarkable $1.1 Billion. The University of Alberta boasts numerous world class medical research centers, including the Li Ka Shing Institute for Virology. Our competitive advantage includes a low cost of office and lab space, a future-focused workforce, strong and established life science sector, and AI expertise – all translating to accelerated growth for your company.
Edmonton Region's top-tier universities and colleges provide a steady stream of highly qualified professionals, including a high concentration of PhDs and researchers.
The Edmonton Region boasts world-class research institutions at the forefront of advancements in diabetes, virology, oncology, precision health, robotics, artificial intelligence, and more.
Alberta’s corporate tax rate is 8%, making the combined federal/provincial rate of 23%. This is the lowest tax rate in Canada and is among the lowest corporate tax rates in North America.
A comprehensive network to support varying life sciences ventures — from research and development to commercialization.
Discover organisations and businesses that are driving innovation and growth across the Edmonton Region.
The Canadian Critical Drug Initiative (CCDI) is a nearly $200 million project led by API, in partnership with the University of Alberta, that will create an integrated research, commercialization, and manufacturing cluster in the Edmonton Region. Once constructed, the facility will fill critical gaps in small molecule manufacturing for Canada.
The Edmonton Region is home to Gilead’s largest operation in Canada. Gilead currently markets compounds to treat hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS, and cancer. In 2015, Gilead invested $100 million to upgrade their existing facility and add a manufacturing building and processing tower, expanding its operations significantly and more than doubling its team.
Health Cities exists to propel the Edmonton Region as a leader in health-care innovation. The organization engages with clinicians, innovators, philanthropic organizations, industry, and academia to address key health challenges and improve outcomes.
The Health Innovation Hub is the University of Alberta’s lead life sciences incubator. The Hub supports the life science innovation community in Alberta by providing programming support, access to space and training resources, coaching and consulting support, and connections to peers and advisors with the intent of increasing the commercialization success of health and life science technologies.
Generates a range of evidence including incidence and prevalence of disease in specific populations, treatment patterns including sequencing, adherence, and persistence, safety monitoring, as well as comparative effectiveness and cost-effectiveness.
This program, lead by Alberta Innovates, aims to help researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry create better healthcare for Albertans – and by using artificial intelligence, finding these solutions faster.
“I came to Alberta from California 10 years ago to apply my experience and research in biotechnology to help Alberta grow its biotech industry. We are well on our way to do that. I think now is a great time to be looking at the Edmonton Region for investments – we are showing great progress in so many areas. I think now is a great time to catch the Edmonton biotech wave. “
“What used to take six months and cost a million dollars or more, can now be done in 48 hours for one-tenth of the cost,”
“DrugBank will become a critical infrastructure for healthcare and change the way medicine is done. Our platform will enable better decision making by researchers, healthcare providers, and regulators than what is possible today.”
North American Free Trade Agreement or Canada-United States-Mexico
The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the European Union
The Comprehensive an Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership
If you have any questions, require further information, or would like to book a consultation, please send us a message.
Senior Manager, Business Development, Life sciences
