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TBI Regional Spotlight Ottawa and Eastern Ontario: A history of research excellence

The Ottawa and Eastern Ontario region is connected to the world through its business and government centers, diplomatic missions and extensive international trade links. It’s an ideal place to do business and research, and a great place to live, work and play.

The region is home to over 150 life science companies; two major universities (Carleton University and the University of Ottawa); a leading medical school and affiliated research hospitals; the National Research Council; Health Canada; and over 40 research institutes and centres. There is a lot of good science and companies emerging from the Ottawa hospitals and the National Research Council itself.

Likewise, Eastern Ontario has a history of research excellence with strengths in the areas of stem cells, genomics, proteomics, bioprocessing and convergent technologies. Successful commercialization of discoveries have made the region a recognized leader in the fields of neuroscience, cancer, cardiovascular disease, regenerative medicine, immunotherapeutics, vaccines, diagnostics, medical imaging and emerging technologies.

On top of all this, Ottawa and Eastern Ontario’s community of innovative life science, convergent technology and cleantech companies enjoy the lowest overall business costs in the G7, generous tax treatment of R&D, competitive labour costs, access to a highly skilled and educated workforce and a quality of life second to none.

Overseeing much of this activity is OCRI Life Sciences, a not-for-profit development corporation that is dedicated to providing the services needed to grow and support the life sciences community in Ottawa and Eastern Ontario. As Ottawa’s leading Life Sciences advocate, OCRI worked with national and provincial industry organizations to promote global commercialization of local environmental and biomedical life sciences research.

In June, OCRI Life Sciences co-hosted the inaugural Ottawa Hospital Research Day focusing on “Regenerative Medicine – Emerging Future Therapies” developed in partnership with the University of Ottawa, OHRI, CHEO, OHI, OCRI and Pfizer Canada and bringing together over 100 participants from health research and the pharmaceutical industry to showcase Ottawa’s expertise and facilitate networking for strategic partnering. The organization continues to build the foundation required to grow and support the life sciences community in Ottawa and Eastern Ontario.

"Ottawa’s life sciences sector continues to evolve and diversify,” says Lynn Buchanan, Vice President, Life Sciences, OCRI. “It is really inspiring to see the world-class research and innovation that originates from Ottawa. The scientific community has done Ottawa proud and continues to inspire students to pursue interests in science and technology.”

One area that has seen a lot of activity in the region is clean technology. Certainly, within its thriving life sciences sector Ottawa boasts a world-class capacity in clean technology, clean energy, bioproducts and other environmental sciences. Innovative companies and an availability of natural resources form the foundation for the region’s strengths and strategy for a sustainable economy.

In March 2007, the Ottawa Cleantech Initiative, in partnership with the Ottawa Region Chapter of the Canadian Green Building Council, hosted an interactive event at one of Ottawa’s newest green buildings. Engineers, architects, students, media and the general public witnessed first-hand the innovative technologies and materials that go into green buildings.

The Ottawa and Eastern Ontario region is also well positioned to play a leading role in the transition to a bio-based economy. It features a combination of assets, including a wealth of biomass, a significant cluster of bioproducts-relevant research capacity, and the presence of some world-leading bioproducts and environmental technology companies, that create an environment of opportunity and possibility.