B.C.’s Life Sciences Innovation Engine: adMare BioInnovations

British Columbia (B.C.) has rapidly positioned itself as a global leader in life sciences, driven by cutting-edge research, a highly skilled workforce and its strategic location at the forefront of Canadian innovation. The province’s world-class institutions and exceptional quality of life make it an attractive destination for investment and partnerships in the life sciences sector.

At the heart of B.C.’s thriving life sciences industry is adMare BioInnovations, a key organization playing a pivotal role in driving innovation across the country. Founded in 2019, adMare BioInnovations – named after Canada’s national motto, A Mari Usque Ad Mare (from sea to sea) – has become a national leader in transforming academic research into scalable companies. By collaborating with emerging Canadian life science firms and academic researchers, adMare nurtures innovation, accelerates business growth and develops the next generation of industry leaders. Through its, extensive scientific and commercial expertise, investments in emerging companies, advanced laboratory facilities and specialized training programs, adMare drives sustainable growth in the industry.

With a proven success of helping build 38 companies, 27 of which are still active, adMare continues to be crucial in advancing Canada’s life sciences ecosystem. Through investments in innovative technologies and cross-sector collaboration, adMare strengthens the sector’s connectivity and accelerates commercialization.

In support of its mission to fuel growth and innovation, adMare operates two innovation centres, located in Montreal, Quebec and Vancouver, British Columbia. In Vancouver, adMare’s headquarter is located at the Pharmaceutical Sciences Building on the University of British Columbia (UBC) campus and is soon to open a new wet lab facility Downtown Vancouver at the M4 Main Alley site to house scale-up companies. These centres offer vibrant hubs, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, shared equipment, office spaces and a wide range of specialized analytical services tailored for life sciences innovation. adMare innovation centres facilitate collaboration and foster connections through educational workshops, networking events and a thriving community of scientists, entrepreneurs and startups, driving breakthroughs in Canadian health sciences.

AdMare’s new site in Vancouver is supported by a $10 million investment from the Government of B.C. This facility will bolster the growth of early-stage biotech companies in the region and will serve as a key resource for Vancouver’s emerging biotech startups, providing the tools, resources and collaborative opportunities necessary to scale their innovations. Over the next five years, the new adMare facility is expected to support more than 20 ventures, encouraging collaboration among entrepreneurs, researchers and industry leaders while strengthening Vancouver’s role as a vibrant life sciences hub.

This expansion is closely aligned with B.C.’s larger vision for life sciences growth. It is part of the Province’s broader Life Sciences and Biomanufacturing Strategy, which outlines five key pillars for advancing commercial-scale biopharmaceutical and medical manufacturing. As of 2024, supported by a $737 million investment from the Government of B.C., this strategy is designed to ensure that B.C. remains at the forefront of global life sciences innovation.

The impact of these strategic investments are already evident. B.C. has made significant strides in areas such as precision medicine, COVID-19 therapeutics, messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine technology, lipid nanoparticles, antibodies and medical devices. As adMare continues to drive innovation and company growth with initiatives like the new wet lab space, fostering the development of groundbreaking therapies and technologies for years to come.

Learn more about B.C.’s thriving life sciences industry and future opportunities.