 |
| About Bioline | All Journals | Testimonials | Membership | News |
|
||||||
|
||||||
Volume 8 Number 1, January/February 1998, pp. 14-17
The Canadian Biotechnology SeminarsApril 27 - May 1, 1998 - Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney
Code Number:AU98002
The Canadian Biotechnology Industry is a major force in global biotech development with agricultural research in particular second only to the United States Biotechnology Industry. Canada has a unique, well advanced network of biotechnology associations representing the major provinces (states) and supported by a wide cross-section of associate research groups and provincial and federal government trade departments. Major associations include Quebec Bio-Industries Association (QBIA), Laval,Quebec (Quebec Province); Toronto Biotechnology Initiative (TBI), Toronto (Ontario Province); B.C. Biotechnology Alliance (BCBA), Vancouver (British Columbia Province); Institute Acadien de Biotechnologie, Moncton (New Brunswick Province); Global Agricultural Biotechnology Association, Saskatoon (Saskatchewan Province); National Research Council (NRC), Halifax (Nova Scotia Province). The key federal or national associations are Canadian Institute of Biotechnology (CIB), Industrial Biotechnology Association of Canada (IBAC) and Biotechnology Human Resources Council (BHRC) soon to be amalgamated into one national organisation, BIOTECanada, representing the full breadth of the Canadian Biotechnology Community. General trade between Canada and USA now exceeds $365 billion annually opening an ever increasing range of trading opportunities as a result of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Biotechnology alliances and partnerships contribute to this achievement with additional and significant biotechnology developments occurring with the European Economic Community and major Asian economies. Cultural similarities between Canada and Australia and a compatible government, legal and business environment is an ideal base for developing strategic alliances and joint venture partnering including the advantage of safe havens for investment alliances. Canadian organisations also view Australia as a base or springboard to developing S.E. Asian relationships and conversely Canada as a base for North & South American trade development. The Australian Biotechnology Association has maintained a working relationship with the Canadian Institute Biotechnology since 1991 resulting in the current Canadian speaker participation at the 14th Australasian Biotechnology Conference, Adelaide, April 19-24, 1998. Continuing on from the Conference and as a further April 98 Biotech highlight, a select group of Canadian Biotechnology executives will deliver presentations at a series of Seminars to be held in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney. ABA and CIB has secured the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs & International Trade (DFAIT) to develop the Seminars as a Canadian Australian Trade initiative under the Team Canada concept. DFAIT Canada personnel situated at the Canadian Consulate General, Sydney, in conjunction with the Directors of the Australian Biotechnology Association have now finalised the April 98 Seminar series. The visiting speakers will present the Canadian view at the 14th Australasian Biotechnology Conference, International Business Session and continuing the following week in: MELBOURNE: Monday, April 27, 1998 7.30am - 12.30pm : "Theatrette/Premier's Room", Trade & Investment Centre, Level 46, 55 Collins St, Melbourne (Contact: Marissa Pena (02) 9364-3043) BRISBANE: Wednesday, April 29, 1998 7.30am - 12.30pm : "The Senate Chambers", University of Queensland, St. Lucia (Contact: Marissa Pena (02) 9364-3043) SYDNEY: Friday, May 1, 1998 7.30am - 12.30pm : "The Auditorium", The Garvan Institute of Medical Research, St. Vincents Hospital Campus, 384 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst (Contact: Marissa Pena (02) 9364-3043) Information: Geoff Fox, Project Manager
PROGRAMME CANADIAN BIOTECHNOLOGY SEMINARS 7.30am to 8.30am Guest arrival and Registration - light breakfast 8.30am to 9.00am Dr Rick Walter, Mission Leader Opening Address and Speaker 1 9.00am to 9.20am Dr Joyce Groote, President, BIOTECanada, Ottawa 9.20am to 9.40am Dr Murray McLaughlin, President, Ontario Agri-Food Technologies & past Deputy Minister Saskatchewan Agriculture 9.40am to 9.55am 1st Session - Question & Answer Period 9.55am to 10.25am Break Coffee/Tea 10.30am to 10.50am 2nd Session - Speaker, Dr Joane Jellett, President, Biotek Ltd, Nova Scotia 10.50am to 11.10am Dr Peter McCann, President, Ag-West Biotech Inc, Saskatchewan 11.10am to 11.30am Theresa E. McCurry, Executive Director, B.C. Biotechnology Alliance, Vancouver 11.30am to 11.45am 2nd Session - Question & Answer Period 11.45am to 11.55am Concluding Remarks - Mission Leader, Dr Rick Walter 11.55am to 12 noon Seminar closure - Canadian Consulate General Representative CANADIAN BIOTECHNOLOGY OVERVIEWPresented by: Rick Walter, Vice President, BIOTECanada and Joyce
Groote, President, BIOTECanada Strong Research Base Biotechnology begins in the laboratory and Canadian researchers have set themselves apart as world class by any standards. There are a number of places in Canada that have established a critical mass of researchers around which the industry has grown such as: Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver for healthcare and Saskatoon for agriculture. This year the federal government announced an $800 million committment to the formation of the Canada Foundation for Innovation, which will leverage $2 billion in new infrastructure funding over the next 4 years. This investment should ensure Canadian researchers have the facilities and equipment they need to maintain internationally recognized leading edge research. Financial Support One of the most crucial inputs for a successful biotechnology sector is adequate financing. In the past Canada's biotechnology industry was plagued by a lack of patient investment capital. Today, that is no longer the case. All of the stages from academic research through commercialization are now being addressed through a myriad of public and private sources of finance. Private sector firms and government granting agencies are supporting basic research. A number of newly established ultra-early venture capital firms are dealing directly with university researchers and providing funds to establish intellectual property protection and initial proof of concept. Initial seed funding is also now available for life sciences through more traditional sources such as the banking community and pools of venture capital. Canadian VC investments in the Life Sciences have increased 5 fold over 3 years, from $50 million in 1993 to $280 million in 1996, outpacing even the information technologies sector. VC investments in life sciences for the first half of 1997 showed a slight increase over the same time in 1996. Regional development organizations are investing in new company startups and educating angel investors about young biotechnology companies. Corporate investment and partnering with Canadian biotechnology companies by multinational companies remains strong. Even the Federal Government has begun to partner with biotechnology companies starting with a $60 million investment in a cancer vaccine research program. Finally the public markets have been favourable to the biotechnology industry. The single largest secondary public offering in the world was completed last year raising over $250 million. Total Canadian public company market capitalization reached $11.8 billion (Dec 97). The federal government has also played a role in promoting commercialization through the establishment of the Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) program that links academic and industry researchers. Since 1994, the five biotechnology NCEs have spun-out 33 new companies (which already employ over 400 people) to commercialize new technologies, proving this program is uniquely well suited to the needs of the biotechnology community. Regulatory Framework (National & International) Canada's product-based regulatory system for biotechnology was developed using a modern risk management approach and up-to-date scientific experience to accommodate this new technology. In addition, the federal government has successfully used existing legislation and institutions to regulate products. As a result, Canada is now seen as a global leader with Canada's regulatory system used as a model for new systems being established throughout the world. Canada has approved 33 applications for commercial use of plants with novel traits since 1995 including canola, corn, tomato, potato, cotton and flax. Canada's drug approval system has also become internationally competitive by cutting the drug approval time in half since 1994. Canada, with an average drug approval time of approximately 545 days, is beginning to rival other G7 countries such as USA and France. Intellectual property protection for new drugs also meets international standards. There are also a number of international initiatives establishing regulatory standards for products of biotechnology. The United Nations Conventions on Biological Diversity is developing an International Protocol for the safety handling and use of all living modified organisms. Codex Alimentarius, a joint United Nations / World Health Organization undertaking, has a committee drafting standards for the labelling of foods produced through modern biotechnology. UNESCO has established an international bioethics committee that is currently consulting on a draft Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights. It is hoped that these initiatives will bring us closer to international regulatory harmonization. Human Resource Requirements In 1995, Human Resources and Development Canada (HRDC) and the biotechnology industry jointly conducted a study that identified the need for 6,000 to 10,000 additional highly skilled jobs in the Canadian biotechnology sector by the year 2000. The Canadian biotechnology industry will have to compete globally for a limited pool of human resources. Shortages of experienced personnel in basic and applied research, technology development, product/process development, marketing and sales, and management can already be felt. As a first step in addressing this issue HRDC in partnership with the Industrial Biotechnology Association of Canada (IBAC) have established the Biotechnology Human Resources Council (BHRC). BHRC is designed to bring together industry, academia, government, and labour in the development and implementation of a human resources strategy to ensure Canada can meet the needs of our growing biotechnology industry in the 21st century. Coordination Regional and National Organizations The voice of the Canadian biotechnology community is heard through a collection of associations, institutions, and economic development organizations working both regionally and nationally to foster an environment conducive to the growth of biotechnology in Canada. In the last year these organizations have worked together more closely than ever before to support the industry. In this same spirit of cooperation the Industrial Biotechnology Association of Canada (IBAC), the Canadian Institute of Canada (CIB) and the Biotechnology Human Resources Council (BHRC) have amalgamated to form a single national organization called BIOTECanada. BIOTECanada is now providing a unified voice for biotechnology from research and development through to commercialization. Product Acceptance The ultimate measure of success for any commercial venture is product sales. Products must show value for cost and the first biotechnology products are succeeding. Companies are working hard to meet the demand for Canadian products from biopharmaceuticals for AIDS to herbicide resistant Canola. Awareness and acceptance of products of biotechnology by the general public has been the focus of a number of Canadian initiatives over the last few years and they are having a positive effect.
Copyright 1998 Australian Biotechnology Association Ltd. |
| |||||||||
