Life Sciences and Biomanufacturing – Province of British Columbia
(Photos courtesy of STEMCELL Technologies and Simon Fraser University)
British Columbia leads Canada in life sciences sector growth nationally and is home to a highly-innovative, maturing industry that employs over 20,000 professionals. This page provides the province’s Life Sciences and Biomanufacturing Strategy and related sector resources.
On this page:
B.C. Life Sciences and Biomanufacturing Strategy
The Strategy
The Life Sciences and Biomanufacturing Strategy will position British Columbia as a global hub for life sciences and biomanufacturing, and as a leading centre for commercial scale biopharmaceutical and medical manufacturing.
Year One Progress Report
This Year One Progress Report outlines the actions taken to support the Life Sciences and Biomanufacturing Strategy, in line with the B.C. Government’s Industrial Blueprint to attract investment, create new jobs, and grow clean energy and sustainable industries in the province.
News releases
- December 15, 2025 – Boosting B.C.’s health emergency readiness, life sciences jobs
- September 16, 2025 – B.C. strengthens clinical research bringing more jobs, better care to people
- September 15, 2025 – More B.C. youth trained for growing biomanufacturing industry
- June 13, 2025 – Province helps build global connections for B.C.’s life sciences sector
- April 15, 2025 – Genomics research will advance treatment for B.C. patients
- July 10, 2024 – Hundreds of high-quality jobs in bioprinted tissue therapeutics coming to B.C.
- April 4, 2024 – Research support helps fight metabolism diseases
- January 30, 2024 – State-of-the-art technology enhances cancer diagnostics, research, care
- December 14, 2023 – New clinical support, research centre to be built next to new St.Paul’s Hospital
- November 9, 2023 – New act streamlines credential recognition for internationally trained professionals
- October 19, 2023 – New funding supports innovation, healthier lives
- October 10, 2023 – New clinical trials will save lives, support B.C. innovation
- June 9, 2023 – Life-saving research gets provincial funding boost, expanded mandate
- June 5, 2023 – Trade mission to U.S. builds on momentum in B.C.’s life-sciences sector
- May 24, 2023 – New partnership with AbCellera will create jobs, help address global health-care challenges
- May 8, 2023 – Investment creates 3,000 tech-learning spaces in B.C.
- May 3, 2023 – New support will help growing Vancouver Island life sciences businesses
- April 21, 2023 – Mitacs intership funding will help connect students, employers
- April 17, 2023 – New strategy positions B.C. as a global hub for life sciences
- February 14, 2023 – B.C. building talent pool to support life sciences, biomanufacturing
- March 2, 2022 – New life sciences investment helps build stronger B.C
Government resources
BC Government – Life Sciences in British Columbia: Sector Profile / May 2023
This Sector Profile report presents an overview of the life sciences sector and its ecosystem in British Columbia, highlights the sector’s statistics and economic contribution to the province, and outlines the ecosystem assets and resources that contribute to its growth potential.
Trade and Invest BC – International Trade and Foreign Investment / November 2024
Learn why British Columbia’s life sciences sector is one of Canada’s fastest growing on the Trade and Invest BC website. Trade and Invest BC helps organizations grow by facilitating foreign investment and enable businesses to successfully expand to and establish a business presence in British Columbia.
Health Research BC – Research Approval Processes Project (RAPP) gains strong support from streamlining in British Columbia / February 2024
The Research Approval Processes Project (RAPP) has received support from the Leadership Council, a council of Health Authority Chief Executive Officers and Ministry of Health leadership. Recognizing the pivotal role of health research in fostering a high-quality and efficient health system, Leadership Council has indicated strong support for the streamlining efforts proposed by RAPP, which encompass ethics, privacy, data access and sharing, contracts, and operational approvals .
Other resources
Work BC – Fostering a Globally Competitive Life Sciences Ecosystem in B.C. / February 2024
The study, Fostering a Globally Competitive Life Sciences Ecosystem in B.C., was funded through B.C.’s Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills Sector Labour Market Partnership program and conducted with methodology and project support by KPMG. It provides detailed workforce information at a critical time for the growth of the sector.
I need help
For questions about B.C.’s Life Sciences and Biomanufacturing Strategy, email the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation: [email protected]
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