As co-chairs of the CEA, could you elaborate on how the Council's expertise will shape and drive the implementation of Canada's Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy?
The Council of Expert Advisors provides expert advice to help the Government of Canada achieve its vision for a revitalized and vibrant Canadian life sciences sector and improve Canada’s ability to respond to future pandemics and health threats. We are well positioned to fulfill this role thanks to our diverse membership and the enthusiasm members bring to this work. The Council’s members bring a wide range of experience and expertise from diverse domains including basic science research, venture capital, product development, biomanufacturing, biosafety, and public health policy. Our diversity strengthens our consultations and allows us to provide advice to the Government of Canada on a wide range of issues, including how to best address gaps and structural issues in the ecosystem, enhance domestic pandemic preparedness and response capacity, and promote the long-term sustainable growth of Canada’s biomanufacturing and life sciences sector.
Given the emphasis on pandemic preparedness in the Strategy, what are the key initiatives or recommendations the CEA is prioritizing to enhance Canada's readiness for future health emergencies?
The Government of Canada has made significant investments in its domestic biomanufacturing and life sciences sector since the onset of the pandemic to enhance readiness for future health emergencies, which remains a primary objective at the heart of our Council’s work.
Investments by the Government of Canada should be optimally leveraged for Canada’s longer-term health emergency preparedness, while ensuring that domestically the sector continues to innovate and grow in a manner that is sustainable in the inter-emergency period.
The 2023 Federal Budget committed to exploring ways to more efficiently and effectively support the development and production of critical medical countermeasures, including vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics by supporting infrastructure, projects, talent development, and a strong connected ecosystem. Our Council members continue to make contributions to the Government of Canada’s thinking with respect to where we go next.
How does the CEA plan to foster collaboration among the diverse stakeholders within the biomanufacturing and life sciences ecosystem, including academia, industry, and government, to achieve the Strategy's objectives?
The Council’s diverse membership is an excellent example of how collaboration is fostered across stakeholders in the biomanufacturing and life sciences ecosystem. The Council has recognized leaders from the life sciences, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical industries, the life sciences investment and venture capital community, and research and academic institutions. Through this wide range of experience and expertise across our Council’s membership, we are better able to inform the implementation and objectives of Canada’s Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy. Additionally, several Council members have participated in government-led initiatives, such as the Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Innovation Symposium, bringing together key stakeholders from across the ecosystem, including academia, industry, and government. The symposium fostered collaboration among key industry leaders by showcasing and discussing innovation and capacity-building activities across Canada, and is just one example of our efforts to foster collaboration within the ecosystem.
Finally, collaborative activities are also fostered under the Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy through the support from the Canada Biomedical Research Fund (CBRF) and Biosciences Research Infrastructure Fund (BRIF). This joint funding competition has led to the creation of five Research Hubs of scientific leadership across Canada. By design, the CBRF-BRIF program will bring together leaders across the life sciences ecosystem for collaboration on strategic projects. These collaborations will focus on research, talent development and training of highly qualified personnel, as well as the building up of strategic biomanufacturing and related capacities across the country.
In what ways is the CEA advising on supporting research and innovation within the biomanufacturing and life sciences sectors, and how do these efforts align with the commercialization of Canadian technologies and products?
Historically, Canada has recognized the importance of innovative research and science in the biomanufacturing and life sciences sectors but has faced difficulties in commercializing academic research and early-stage technologies. To overcome these challenges, we consider seriously the Council’s mandate to provide strategic advice to help adapt Canada’s Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy to new technologies and changing conditions in the marketplace and life sciences ecosystem, and will continue to advise the Government of Canada on what potential projects, investments, and activities will yield the greatest benefits to Canadians. Notably, Canada’s Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy includes a range of programs and initiatives spanning research, talent, research infrastructure, clinical trials, public sector assets, and the private sector. These elements are all essential components of the life cycle of vaccines, therapeutics and technologies. Through the Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy, Canada is taking an end-to-end approach to supporting research and innovation that optimally supports a strong pipeline of innovations that move from the research ecosystem into the market.
How does the CEA envision Canada's role and contribution to the global biomanufacturing and life sciences landscape, especially in the context of strategic international partnerships and alliances?
We know that by revitalizing and strengthening its domestic research and industrial base, Canada can better participate in the global network of life sciences and biomanufacturing. We also know that Canada’s Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy was designed to ensure that Canada develops a globally relevant domestic capacity to have the means to participate in strategic international partnership and alliances. In this regard, while the Government of Canada is prioritizing sufficient domestic capacity to meet the needs of the Canadian population, it is also pursuing investments that will be globally relevant. Our advice as a Council continues to prioritize national efforts to shore up Canada as a prospective partner in this field, and we are excited to continue to advise the Government of Canada on how to build and expand strategic and diverse international connections to further solidify domestic capabilities and preparedness.
