Life Sciences – Can Toronto be the Next Boston?

Check-in and network with other guests before our event begins.

Speaker:

• Giles Gherson, President & CEO, Toronto Region Board of Trade

The province has set a goal to maintain and grow Ontario’s biomanufacturing and life sciences sector by targeting 85,000 high-value jobs in the life sciences sector by 2030, a 25% increase from 2020. These opening remarks will provide insights into Ontario’s life sciences strategy and progress made in building out Ontario’s industry to become a leader in the life sciences sector.

Speaker:

• The Hon. Minister Victor Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, Government of Ontario   

Enjoy a delectable meal from our venue partners, Oliver & Bonacini.

Why attend? Join us for an exclusive session featuring an international luminary from a thriving life sciences cluster. Gain invaluable insights as they delve into the powerful lessons and learnings gleaned from global jurisdictions, specifically tailored to elevate Toronto's standing. Don't miss this unique opportunity to tap into a wealth of knowledge that could help inform the future of life sciences in our region.

Presenting Sponsor Remarks:

• Berkeley Vincent, President, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine

Speaker:

• Travis McCready, Head of Life Sciences, Americas Markets Chair, Global Life Sciences Advisory Board, JLL

While the region has strong research and innovation capacities, the sector struggles to commercialize at scale – limiting the economic benefit derived from innovative ideas, products, and services developed by the region’s life sciences sector.

Why attend? A clearer path to commercialization, with fewer barriers, is critical to growth in this sector. In this session, you will hear from key members in the life sciences ecosystem discuss how we can turn breakthrough innovations into successful commercial products while improving healthcare outcomes.

Speakers:

• Arthur Kesisyan, VP Life Sciences Canada, AtkinsRéalis
• Dr. Christine Allen, Professor, Drug Development & Disease Diagnostics, University of Toronto

Moderator:

• Dr. Jason Field, President and CEO, Life Sciences Ontario

Breakout #1 – Building Capacity: Investing in Infrastructure & Real Estate

Toronto has Canada’s largest life sciences sector, but it’s running out of room to grow. Institutions in the region are looking for an estimated 3.5 million square feet of lab space that doesn’t exist. We aren’t sufficiently planning for the space companies will need to grow. This includes wet labs, training centres and more.

Why attend? The session will likely address the critical issue of space constraints in Toronto's life sciences sector. If you’re a life sciences professional, this will explore solutions to help overcome growth challenges, expand your ability to expand operations and develop new products.

Speakers:

• Cary Solomon, Managing Partner, Seeker Labs
• Dr. Maura Campbell, President and CEO, OBIO
• Parimal Nathwani, President and CEO, Toronto Innovation Acceleration Partners
• Dan Lacey, Associate Vice President, CBRE

Moderator:

• Bethany Moir, Director, Stakeholder Relations and Strategic Projects, Toronto Global

Breakout #2 – Harnessing Our Workforce

An additional 14,300 workers will be needed in bio-health and bio-industrial industries by 2029 to meet hiring requirements in the Greater Toronto Area, including:

• 9000 workers in bio-health
• 4100 workers in bio-industrial
• 670 workers in agri-bio
• 390 workers in bio-energy

According to Bio-Talent Canada, new talent pools will be important because domestic enrolments in bio-economy-related post-secondary programs are expected to decrease in the coming years.

Why attend? This session will unpack the need for highly skilled professionals to catalyze growth and ensure success for the life sciences sector. Panelists in this session will explore talent gaps – ranging from executive management to technical expertise. It will also address how we can build on our existing talent base to meet the growing needs of the sector and help our companies compete globally.

Speakers:

• Henry Miller, Partner and Chairman of Global Life Sciences Practice, Odgers Berndtson
• Rob Henderson, President and CEO, BioTalent Canada

Moderator:

• Ben Rogers, Dean, Applied Research, Seneca Polytechnic

Breakout #3 – Unleashing the MedTech Cluster

• There are 30,200 people working in Ontario’s MedTech sector at almost 1,300 companies that collectively earn $18.7 billion in revenues annually.
• Ontario’s MedTech sector has attracted global players like Medtronic, GE Healthcare, Stryker, and Johnson & Johnson.

Why attend? As the epicenter of innovation and growth — and attracting global players — the Toronto region's MedTech cluster is set to soar to unprecedented heights. Join us as we unravel the untapped potential within this dynamic ecosystem, navigate the barriers and discover the keys to unlocking unparalleled opportunities. With the 2024 MedTech conference on the horizon, this is your chance to gain invaluable insights from visionaries shaping the future of healthcare technology and position yourself to benefit from these opportunities.

Speakers:

• James Brodie, General Manager, Canada, Johnson & Johnson MedTech
• Youssef Helwa, CEO and Co-Founder, FluidAI
• Garret Tone, Executive Director of Life Sciences, Invest Ontario

Moderator:

• Shahira Bhimani, Health Innovation Consultant

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Ontario is responsible for 51% of Canada's R&D funding and personnel, empowering a robust innovation ecosystem. Cutting-edge innovations are happening right in our background, supported by public sector investments to bring these innovations to the world.

Why attend? Join us for a chance to hear about leading made-in-Ontario health care solutions. Learn how they are using advanced technologies to solve complex challenges, create new opportunities, and improve lives.

Introductory Remarks:

• Andrew Weir, Executive Vice-President, Destination Development, Destination Toronto

Speakers:

• James Scongack, Executive Vice President, Operational Services & Chief Development Officer, Bruce Power
• Chris Bass, Co-Founder, and CEO, InventoRR MD
• Carold MacDonald, Co-Founder and President, Gotcare
• Jeremy Grushcow, Co-Founder and CEO, Juniper Genomics

Join us for "The Hot Seat - How Well Do You Know the Region's Life Sciences Sector?" featuring Lilly Canada, a global pharmaceutical powerhouse.

Why attend? In this engaging intellectual gameshow, Lilly Canada will share insights on the strengths, weaknesses, and nuances of the local life sciences ecosystem. This isn't your average quiz show – it's an opportunity to peek behind the curtain and discover what Lilly Canada considers when making business decisions. From global strategies to local nuances, ain a unique perspective as they compare our region to others across various themes, shedding light on critical aspects and business decision-making factors.

Don't miss this rare opportunity to unravel the intricacies of the life sciences sector with Lilly Canada. Join us for an invigorating and fun segment in a day of insightful exploration that will shape the future of Toronto's life sciences landscape. The countdown has begun!

Contestants:

• Kenneth L. Custer, President and General Manager, Lilly Canada

Host:

• Giles Gherson, President and CEO, Toronto Region Board of Trade

Speaker: 

• Giles Gherson, President & CEO of Toronto Region Board of Trade