Biotech Clusters in British Columbia

To be the catalyst for a life sciences cluster of genomics-related research institutions and companies working

together for the socio-economic benefit of British Columbia and Canada.

Our Vision

Our History

• Motivated by the late Dr. Michael Smith, Genome British Columbia was formed in July 2000 by a Board comprised of leaders in BC’s life science research, technology and investment sectors

• Competition I projects and platforms were announced in April 2001, with an investment in BC of $69M; Competition II projects were announced in April 2002, with a direct investment in BC of $32M and indirect investment in BC of another $13M for a total of $114M

• The Applied Health Competition was announced in April 2004 with approved projects in BC of $44M

Biotechnology in British Columbia – Reference: BC Biotech (2004)•BC’s biotechnology industry comprises

over 90 private sector firms

•British Columbia is home to the seventh largest biotech cluster in North America based on the number of biotech companies

•The majority of biotechnology companies in BC have been spun off from the province’s universities, affiliated teaching hospitals and public sector research institutions

Biotechnology in British Columbia – Reference: BC Biotech (2004)•BC’s biotechnology industry is dominated

by firms in the health care sector (60%), companies developing biopharmaceutical and biomedical applications

•BC is the fastest growing biotech sector in Canada with a 108% growth rate in the number of core biotech companies from 1997 to 2001

Biotechnology in British Columbia – Reference: BC Biotech (2004)•Between 1991 and 2001, 60 biotechnology

companies were created in Vancouver, making it the third fastest growing in North America, with only San Francisco (71) and Boston (65) having founded more companies in that decade

• In 2003, British Columbia accounted for 47% of all public and 34% of all private biotech financings in Canada. Total investment in public companies in BC in 2003 was $789,852,500; and total investment in private companies in BC in 2003 was $83,400,000

Biotechnology in British Columbia – Reference: BC Biotech (2004)•Total venture capital funding for biotech

firms in Vancouver from 1998 to 2001 was US$204.1 million compared to the average of US$191.3 million among 52 US centres examined

•2002 revenue among BC’s top biotech companies was $165.88 million

•Total estimated employment by Vancouver biotechnology firms is 2,593. The pharmaceutical industry employs an additional 1,121

Reference: White Paper: PwC 2003

Reference: White Paper: PwC 2003

Reference: White Paper: PwC 2003

Reference: White Paper: PwC 2003

Reference: White Paper: PwC 2003

Reference: White Paper: PwC 2003

Reference: White Paper: PwC 2003

Cluster Development – Factors•CRISIS

– eg. Ottawa

•PAN POLITICAL– eg. Oregon

•CHAMPIONS– eg. Terry Mathews

Cluster Development – Factors•ANGELS

– eg. Denny Doyle

•MENTORS AND BOARDS– eg. Haig Farris

•UNIVERSITIES– eg. UBC Spin-offs

Cluster Development – Factors•COMPANIES

– eg. MPR, QLT

•4th PILLAR ORGANIZATIONS– eg. OCRI; AceTech; Genome BC

Cluster Development – Factors•NATIONAL

– eg. Economical and political sovereignty • NAFTA / city states model• National model

Summary

•Technology clusters have not reached their potential in BC

•However, the biotech cluster in BC is well-positioned for growth

Reference: The State of Biotechnology in Canada: Current research from the ISRN: May 2004