A $6 million investment will enable adMare BioInnovations to build a 30,000-square-foot innovation center in Vancouver, boosting local biotech research and development.
VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 7, 2025 – British Columbia’s life sciences sector thrives, with over 2,000 companies employing more than 20,000 people. However, the scarcity of specialized research facilities in the Lower Mainland hinders early-stage companies’ growth and innovation.
Today, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada (PacifiCan), the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, announced $6 million in PacifiCan funding for adMare BioInnovations to create a new life sciences innovation center in Vancouver. This will fund the 30,000-square-foot facility’s construction, including plumbing, electrical systems, HVAC upgrades, and lab equipment.
Scheduled to open in 2026, the center addresses the critical need for wet lab space in Vancouver. Wet labs, highly regulated research spaces, are crucial for life sciences companies conducting experiments and developing drug therapies. While many start in university research centers, they require their own labs to expand.
The new center will offer turnkey wet lab and office space for up to 10 life sciences companies simultaneously, supporting their growth and the development of life-saving therapies. These companies will also benefit from adMare’s talent development programs, fostering innovation within B.C.’s life sciences ecosystem.
This PacifiCan investment, through its Regional Innovation Ecosystems program, is projected to maintain and create over 100 quality jobs in British Columbia. The new center will also contribute to solving global health challenges and solidifying B.C.’s leadership in life sciences innovation.
Quotes
“British Columbia’s thriving life sciences sector produces global health solutions. By collaborating with organizations like adMare BioInnovations and investing in vital lab infrastructure in Vancouver, PacifiCan fosters industry growth. This PacifiCan funding will provide companies with the resources they need to succeed, strengthening B.C.’s reputation as a science and innovation hub.”
-The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada
“PacifiCan’s investment in the adMare Innovation Centre will increase our ability to support emerging life sciences companies, helping them scale, attract investment, and create high-quality jobs in Canada. As companies grow and move to their own facilities, they create space for new startups – a continuous cycle of innovation strengthening the industry, driving economic growth, and providing advancements for patients.”
–Gordon McCauley, President and CEO, adMare BioInnovations
Quick Facts
- PacifiCan, the federal economic development agency for British Columbians, works with partners building innovative businesses, creating quality jobs, and supporting inclusive growth.
- Named after Canada’s motto, A Mari Usque Ad Mare (From Sea to Sea), adMare BioInnovations is a pan-Canadian life sciences organization that collaborates with scientists to advance early-stage technologies and research into therapeutic products and health innovations.
- A wet lab is a laboratory where experiments use liquids, chemicals, and biological matter. Wet labs are designed to prevent contamination and spillage, and often have specialized equipment and plumbing.
- PacifiCan’s Regional Innovation Ecosystems program invests in sectors across British Columbia, building an ecosystem that includes under-represented groups and enables companies to innovate locally and compete globally.
- As part of B.C.’s Life Sciences and Biomanufacturing Strategy, the to help grow early-stage, local biotech companies.
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SOURCE Pacific Economic Development Canada