British Columbia: Canada’s Fastest-Growing Life Sciences Sector for the Past Decade
As Canada’s fastest-growing life sciences sector, British Columbia (B.C.) is turning local strength into international momentum. B.C.’s life sciences sector has grown by 55% in employment, 88% in GDP contribution, and 82% in goods exported (2014-2024). *
The third largest life sciences hub in Canada, and arguably Canada’s largest biotech sub-sector, B.C. punches above its weight in translating ideas to commercial entities, with the University of British Columbia alone spinning off more than 300 companies. These companies have raised an estimated $11 billion in capital and generated an estimated $13 billion in revenue. B.C.’s foundation stems from a strong track record of commercializing science and creating innovative medicines and solutions.
The sector benefits from a highly engaged government at all levels, including Federal participation. The Life Sciences and Biomanufacturing Strategy was created to elevate B.C.’s global standing, emphasizing talent, infrastructure, clinical trials capacity, and support for local companies. More recently, the province’s Look West strategy aims to double employment in the sector and increase economic impact by 75%. The strategy also looks to capitalize on B.C.’s strengths in lipid nanoparticles (LNP) and RNA and build out an international hub, becoming a leader in biodefence.
B.C. rose to prominence on the global stage during the COVID-19 pandemic, where local science and manufacturing played a pivotal role in urgent global health responses. Notably, Acuitas Therapeutics provided the delivery system which enabled the BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine for millions, and AbCellera with its partner Lilly, were the first in the world to discover and develop an authorized treatment for COVID-19.
The sector continues to build on this momentum, with many other B.C. based success stories gaining global attention. Since then, Acuitas has been involved in several medical breakthroughs, including the first personalized CRISPR gene-editing therapy success story.
Other companies have secured major investments and global partnerships, including Aspect Biosystems, who penned a $3.5 billion deal with Novo Nordisk, and AbCellera who partnered with Jazz Pharmaceuticals for up to $4.1 billion. Zymeworks, following the success of Ziihera® (zanidatamab-hrii), continues to build in the province and around the world. Xenon, Canada’s largest biotech by market-cap, recently announced impressive Phase 3 clinical results, with its lead candidate potentially becoming a best-in-class treatment for patients with seizures.
The province is North America’s gateway to Asia and other international markets. Leveraging B.C.’s strategic geography and cross-border networks to accelerate strategic partnerships and market access for Canadian biotech.
Global Biotech Week activities are a natural extension of B.C.’s global momentum, giving international audiences a window into B.C.’s ongoing growth and capability to scale biotech solutions for global health and economic impact.
British Columbia is exporting its science, manufacturing capacity, and entrepreneurial culture to the world. With strategic government support, a thriving sector, and a proven track record of international engagement, B.C. is building local biotech with global impact.