Life Sciences and Biomanufacturing

Last updated on December 10, 2024

(Photos courtesy of STEMCELL Technologies and Simon Fraser University)

British Columbia leads Canada in life sciences sector growth nationally and is home to a highly-innovative, maturing industry that employs over 20,000 professionals. This page provides the province's Life Sciences and Biomanufacturing Strategy and related sector resources.

B.C. Life Sciences and Biomanufacturing Strategy

The Strategy

The Life Sciences and Biomanufacturing Strategy will position British Columbia as a global hub for life sciences and biomanufacturing, and as a leading centre for commercial scale biopharmaceutical and medical manufacturing.

Download the B.C. Life Sciences and Biomanufacturing Strategy

Year One Progress Report

This Year One Progress Report outlines the actions taken to support the Life Sciences and Biomanufacturing Strategy, in line with the B.C. Government's Industrial Blueprint to attract investment, create new jobs, and grow clean energy and sustainable industries in the province.

Download the B.C. Life Sciences and Biomanufacturing Strategy Progress Report 2023-2024

News releases

July 10, 2024 – Hundreds of high-quality jobs in bioprinted tissue therapeutics coming to B.C.
April 4, 2024 – Research support helps fight metabolism diseases
January 30, 2024 – State-of-the-art technology enhances cancer diagnostics, research, care
December 14, 2023 – New clinical support, research centre to be built next to new St.Paul's Hospital
November 9, 2023 – New act streamlines credential recognition for internationally trained professionals
October 19, 2023 – New funding supports innovation, healthier lives
October 10, 2023 – New clinical trials will save lives, support B.C. innovation
June 9, 2023 – Life-saving research gets provincial funding boost, expanded mandate
June 5, 2023 – Trade mission to U.S. builds on momentum in B.C.'s life-sciences sector
May 24, 2023 – New partnership with AbCellera will create jobs, help address global health-care challenges
May 8, 2023 – Investment creates 3,000 tech-learning spaces in B.C.
May 3, 2023 – New support will help growing Vancouver Island life sciences businesses
April 21, 2023 – Mitacs intership funding will help connect students, employers
April 17, 2023 – New strategy positions B.C. as a global hub for life sciences
February 14, 2023 – B.C. building talent pool to support life sciences, biomanufacturing
March 2, 2022 – New life sciences investment helps build stronger B.C

Government resources

BC Government - Life Sciences in British Columbia: Sector Profile / May 2023

This Sector Profile report presents an overview of the life sciences sector and its ecosystem in British Columbia, highlights the sector’s statistics and economic contribution to the province, and outlines the ecosystem assets and resources that contribute to its growth potential.

Read the Life Sciences in British Columbia: Sector Profile (PDF)

Trade and Invest BC – International Trade and Foreign Investment / November 2024

Learn why British Columbia’s life sciences sector is one of Canada’s fastest growing on the Trade and Invest BC website. Trade and Invest BC helps organizations grow by facilitating foreign investment and enable businesses to successfully expand to and establish a business presence in British Columbia.

Health Research BC - Research Approval Processes Project (RAPP) gains strong support from streamlining in British Columbia / February 2024

The Research Approval Processes Project (RAPP) has received support from the Leadership Council, a council of Health Authority Chief Executive Officers and Ministry of Health leadership. Recognizing the pivotal role of health research in fostering a high-quality and efficient health system, Leadership Council has indicated strong support for the streamlining efforts proposed by RAPP, which encompass ethics, privacy, data access and sharing, contracts, and operational approvals .

Read the article

Other resources

Work BC – Fostering a Globally Competitive Life Sciences Ecosystem in B.C. / February 2024

The study, Fostering a Globally Competitive Life Sciences Ecosystem in B.C., was funded through B.C.’s Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills Sector Labour Market Partnership program and conducted with methodology and project support by KPMG. It provides detailed workforce information at a critical time for the growth of the sector.

Read the Fostering a Globally Competitive Life Sciences Ecosystem in B.C. (PDF)

I need help

For questions about B.C.'s Life Sciences and Biomanufacturing Strategy, email the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation: BCLifeSciencesStrategy@gov.bc.ca

Discover B.C.’s life sciences ecosystem: A renowned innovation economy with some of the best scientists in the world.

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The B.C. Public Service acknowledges the territories of First Nations around B.C. and is grateful to carry out our work on these lands. We acknowledge the rights, interests, priorities, and concerns of all Indigenous Peoples - First Nations, Métis, and Inuit - respecting and acknowledging their distinct cultures, histories, rights, laws, and governments.

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