Canada’s Technology Triangle, Waterloo Region, ON – A new life science directory and website was launched to highlight strengths in SouthWestern Ontario. The partnership initiative draws together the communities of Canada’s Technology Triangle (Waterloo Region, Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo), Guelph, Hamilton, London and Sarnia-Lambton, the latest of initiatives to demonstrate the global effectiveness and competitiveness of the Ontario life science industry.
The new web site, www.swobiotech.com, offers information on more than 400 firms in academic, research, business and various sectoral competencies, and contains contact information, corporate profiles, employment, export and additional market sector information “The Directory will aid entrepreneurs, researchers and investors to readily identify potential partners and business relationships, both locally and abroad,” says Heather Pilot, Director Business Development with the London Economic Development Corporation.
Individually, each community occupies and supports a niche critical to the whole. London and Hamilton in biomedical, pharmaceutical and genomics/proteomics. Guelph in agri-food, neutraceutical and environmental science. Waterloo Region in bioinformatics, environmental engineering and alternative energy. Sarnia-Lambton in bio-products and chemical applications. All communities demonstrate a commitment to research and innovation, including three of Canada’s most research-intensive universities, the University of Guelph, the University of Waterloo and the University of Western Ontario. Collectively, the constituent communities represent an attractive collaborative entity for life science prospectors.
Life science and biotechnology is a rapidly growing industry in Ontario. A recent publication, “Ontario BioCorridor: A World Leader in Biotechnology,” identifies eight hot spots in the province, including Guelph, Hamilton, Kingston, London, Mississauga, Ottawa, Toronto and Waterloo Region, as well as several smaller emerging communities. The new SouthWestern Ontario directory assembles several of these prominent life science concentrations and offers access to business and research sources in a powerful, easy-to-use web site.
John Tennant, CEO, Canada’s Technology Triangle Inc, says, “The cooperative directory serves to enhance synergies between neighbouring municipalities and enterprises, and recognizes excellence in life science as a strength for Ontario as a total regional entity. ” Tennant notes that there is a number of high profile, life science initiatives underway that seeks to enhance the country’s global competitiveness. Canada’s Technology Triangle Inc is the not-for-profit, private/public economic development partnership, marketing the Waterloo Region and Cities of Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo to the world.
“Our understanding of how fundamental life sciences has become as an economic force on a global scale has encouraged us to participate in this partnership,” says Dorothy Redfearn, Business Development Consultant, City of Hamilton, “the life sciences Directory is another means to understand just how fundamental this sector has become.”
“The partnership leads the way for continued collaboration in life sciences, to move the province into a stronger global position,” says Peter Cartwright, City of Guelph Economic Development Director.
“With the recent announcements of the University of Western Ontario’s Research and Development Park in Sarnia-Lambton and Suncor’s plans for a $120 million ethanol plant, the timing is perfect to have this resource available for maximizing opportunities for bio-sciences in our region,” says George Mallay, General Manager for the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership.
Ontario’s accelerated commitment to life science has led to the establishment of such industry acceleration projects as the Ontario BioAlliance, a broad consortium of government and business, designed to intensify activity in life science and focus investment into life sciences.
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Contact:
Linda Fegan, Manager of Marketing and Communications
Canada’s Technology Triangle Inc
(866) 233-5133 toll free, (519) 897-6515 cellular Blackberry
fctt@region.waterloo.on.ca always connected on my Blackberry
Erin Cheney, Life Science Specialist, Economic Development
City of Guelph
(519) 837-5600
echeney@city.guelph.on.ca
Dorothy Redfearn, Business Development Consultant
City of Hamilton
T: 905-546-2424 ext 4475
dredfear@hamilton.ca
Heather Pilot, Director Business Development
London Economic Development Corporation
(800) 327-2428 toll free, (519) 661-4957
hpilot@ledc.com
George Mallay, General Manager
Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership
(519) 332-1820
mallay@www.sarnialambton.on.ca