OBIO® Health to Business Bridge Program™
Onboarding new talent can be challenging, but it is a necessary process for growing companies. OBIO® Health To Business Bridge™ program (H2BB™) has a proven track record in bringing early career talent up-to-speed quickly and giving them a solid footing in the fundamentals of the health science industry.
OBIO® H2BB™ offers top recent graduates and foreign trained professionals who have been pre-screened to ensure they have the skills and capabilities you need to deliver on the business, research and operations projects you are looking for them to deliver on, and expand your business, marketing and/or finance strategies through market research, investor targeting, or conference preparation.
NEW Wage Subsidies available for Scaling Health Science Companies
— Now Accepting Wage Subsidy Grant Applications for 2022/23! —
The OBIO® Health to Business Bridge™ program (H2BB™) addresses Ontario’s workforce development call-to-action for job placements, job retention and industry growth. Focused on Ontario’s health science sector, where health science companies experience the challenges of finding industry-ready talent to scale their business, the program develops human capital through health science-specific training and mentorship, as well as incentivizes employers to attract and retain talent.
Since 2017, OBIO® has successfully orchestrated and delivered the H2BB™ program, preparing professionals with a background in health science and those transitioning into the industry to enter the health science industry by equipping them with the skills, knowledge and resources they need to get up to speed quickly and build a solid foundation in the field. OBIO® will further support companies to facilitate new hiring and ensure a smooth transition for personnel entering the sector by providing a wage subsidy grant to each company.
OBIO® has recently unveiled funding for job placement and talent retention for the health science industry and will support health science companies with a wage subsidy grant to facilitate new hiring and ensure a smooth transition for personnel entering the sector.
Program Highlights
The Job Placement and Talent Retention Program provides employers in the health science industry with 50% of a new hire’s salary, up to a maximum of $5000 in wage subsidies for a minimum three-month placement, to offset the costs of onboarding and training the new employee.
Program participants transitioning into the health science industry will have access to industry-relevant training and workshops on a wide range of topics, including project management, business development, innovation and commercialization, biomanufacturing, regulatory and GMP.
Training program participants will benefit from career development mentorship and coaching from industry experts.
Hiring and onboarding guiding tools for employers and training program participants.
OBIO member companies have access to the OBIO Job Board and Talent Network to. To become an OBIO member,
visit this page.
Companies may receive additional wage subsidies or financial support based on their eligibility for other OBIO® programs. This will be determined after application submission.
Eligibility Criteria
Be an Ontario registered company
Offer a full-time or part-time position for a minimum of 3 months
Provide the new employee with training and mentorship through the H2BB™ training program unless the new employee is a H2BB™ graduate and has already received training
Provide the employee with the same employment terms, conditions and benefits provided by the employer’s other employees at the same job level
Submit a progress report upon request
For specific application requirements and terms and conditions, visit the application page at the link below.
Take advantage of this opportunity – Apply Today!
If you are unsure of your eligibility, please contact:
Andreea Norman
Director
Workforce Development, Health to Business Bridge
andreeanorman@obio.ca
Former Candidate Profiles
Former H2BB™ Early-Career Talents:
MARKETING ASSOCIATE
Natasha Poley is completing her B.Sc. in Biotechnology and Business from the University of Waterloo. As a member of H2BB’s 5th cohort she acted as a marketing associate for an AI-based imaging company. There she developed marketing materials, redesigned their website and managed their social media strategy. Her degree and background also allowed her to participate in the lab at her internship company allowing her to provide them with even more value.
"Through the interning experience I have learned and grown so much. Working at Elucid Labs has allowed me to build skills that will help me further my career. I am very grateful for the opportunity to have participated in H2BB™ and look forward to applying the knowledge I have gained in the future."
-Natasha Poley
Investment Analyst
Matt Ward was part of the H2BB’s second cohort. At the time of his internship Matt was an MBA candidate at McMaster University prior to which he had completed an honors bachelor of health science degree from UOIT. During his internship for a commercialization accelerator Matt performed market analysis on several emerging technologies. He also created models for competitive analysis and provided support in generating investment valuations.
“OBIO’s H2BB™ Program employs a multidimensional teaching and development structure made up of an internship, workshops and continuous mentorship that helps members navigate a fast-track to accumulating the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in the business of health tech innovation and translation.
My time in the program catalyzed my professional growth in a way that my university program alone could not and ultimately led to the start of my career in health science innovation commercialization and investing.”
-Matthew Ward, BHSc, MBA
Medical Engagement and Research specialist
Fariya Mostafa holds a Master’s degree in Neurophysiology. As a Medical Engagement and Research Specialist at an AI-driven diagnostics company in H2BB™ , her main responsibilities were to gather data from clinical researchers and create specifications for the companies software. As the company grew, Fariya was expected to refine the business model and manage ongoing pilots.
“The industry experts at H2BB™ introduced me to strategic planning and market research, which helped guide my mindset as I transitioned into my new role. In addition, H2BB’s Personal Development workshops on teamwork and working with ambiguity were instrumental in further developing my management and decision making skills.”
-Fariya Mostafa
MARKET RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
Nam Vo is a candidate for a Master of Management of Applied Science from Western University. As part of cohort 5 he was a market research associate for a health IT company. His role consisted of competitive analysis, exploration of new markets, reviewing advertising strategies, and developing a plan for the next stage of growth for his company.
"H2BB™ has helped me develop relevant business-related skills while offering an enriching internship experience, making the transition into professionalism much smoother.”
-Nam Vo
MARKETING AND SALES ASSOCIATE
Maddie Rawling was a student in the Master of Management of Innovation program at UTM. Maddie participated in H2BB™ as a Marketing and Sales Associate at a medical device company. During her time with the company, she located and helped to secure distributors, developed a digital marketing strategy, performed SEO on the company’s website, and worked across to the board to grow sales.
"The H2BB™ program provides the resources needed to succeed in a business setting with a life sciences background. The opportunities for professional development and mentorship were integral to the success of my internship this summer."
-Maddie Rawling
MARKET RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
Craig Johnson is a candidate in the Rotman School of Management’s MBA program. During his internship at an imaging based diagnostics company, Craig had the opportunity to work in several different areas. His main project involved market research, both linear and exploratory. He was also able to participate in, and contribute to, investor meetings.
"The H2BB™ program has been incredible. Making a career change can be a difficult transition and OBIO® helped connect me with a young company and an opportunity to develop my skills in a meaningful way."
-Craig Johnson
How H2BB™ Works
OBIO® H2BB™ candidates are pre-screened MBA and Masters-level recruits with STEM backgrounds who have the business development skills to add value to your company.
OBIO® conducts a province-wide, customized search for talent that matches what your company needs right now.
OBIO® sources industry experts who provide interns with coaching and mentorship and lead practical workshops on health science business activities, helping the interns deliver what you need quickly.
Supplementary OBIO® H2BB™ Resources
OBIO’s staff can help finding wage subsidy programs for H2BB™ interns. H2BB™ interns can work with a member of the OBIO® team, giving them skills to use database resources such as PitchBook. This allows them to conduct analyses on:
Market Size, Trends and Competitors
Investors based on past investment activity
For more information, please contact us:
MAURA CAMPBELL
President and CEO
416.848.6839, ext. 101
mauracampbell@obio.ca
ANDREEA NORMAN
Director, Workforce Development, Health to Business Bridge
416.848.6839, ext. 108
andreeanorman@obio.ca