How do we do that?
Since 2000, Ontario Genomics has been investing in researchers and start-ups to drive industrial biotech through homegrown, cutting-edge solutions in food and agriculture, medicine and cleantech. The biggest issue we’ve seen working with start-ups is a lack of access to the infrastructure needed to develop and scale sustainable products and methods of biomanufacturing.
Despite Ontario being a hub of research, food and agriculture production, talent and landmass, the province falls way behind other parts of the world, even other provinces, when it comes to largescale bioreactor infrastructure.
Demand for bio-based products from the renewable energy, pharmaceutical, textile, and agricultural and food production industries is growing rapidly. Bioreactors are a key piece of equipment in biomanufacturing and have been used for decades to make medicines, but this technology is way more versatile and can also help produce everything from food and skincare ingredients to plastics and fabrics.
Commercial biomanufacturing is already happening in other countries where there’s better support. If Canada doesn’t create a national strategy now to make investments in bigger production facilities, research and commercial development and an agile regulatory process, our country will be left behind with little chance to catch up. All at a time where the pressure is on for Canada to diversify its economy and maintain its sovereignty.
That’s where BioScale comes in. Ontario Genomics has launched the Build with Biotech capital campaign for a facility in Toronto that start-ups can access to grow their business faster. We engaged over a hundred SMEs to gauge their interest in such a space and dozens of companies in and outside of Ontario have already signed Letters of Intent for our projected BioScale Facility, that would keep it at capacity for at least two years.