PRESS RELEASE Planning, Broad Stakeholder Engagement, High-Impact Programs, and Commitment to Results Characterize OBIO’s Commitment to Building Ontario’s Bio-Economy
Toronto, Ontario, November 5, 2014 – Today, Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization (OBIO®) is celebrating five years of thought leadership and advocacy for Ontario’s human health sciences industry at an event hosted by Ryerson University. OBIO will be joined by Reza Moridi, PhD, Minister of Research and Innovation and Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities and Sheldon Levy, President and Vice-Chancellor, Ryerson University.
“Ontario congratulates OBIO on five years of achievements and is pleased to support its Capital Access Advisory Program to help our entrepreneurs connect with global markets. Investing in research excellence and infrastructure is an Ontario government priority. It leads to new discoveries, treatments and technologies that will have a worldwide impact and make us more competitive in the 21st century economy,” said Minister Moridi.
"Ryerson researchers focus on solving real world problems and one of our central themes is health and well being. Our leading edge research in biomedical science and engineering has helped to put us on the map. This, coupled with our passionate commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship, aligns us with OBIO's vision for a globally competitive, commercial, health innovation economy in Ontario," said Sheldon Levy. "We are pleased to welcome OBIO and the CAAP program entrepreneurs here today and congratulate the whole OBIO community on their thought leadership over the last five years."
OBIO’s three lead programs are achieving measurable outcomes for Ontario human health technology and bioscience companies: the OBIO Capital Access Advisory Program (CAAP™) helps Ontario companies become “investment ready” and introduces them to a network of local and global investors; the OBEST Innovation Adoption team is working on economic benefits to the province and the sustainability of our health system through development, adoption and dissemination of innovative technologies; and OBIO is building interconnectivity, sector expertise and policy solutions through leadership events and the MPP, multi-party life sciences caucus.
“OBIO is deeply grateful to the many individuals and organizations who engage, volunteer and sponsor our work,” said Gail Garland, Chief Executive Officer of OBIO. “Their dedication and commitment make it possible for us to operate OBIO’s industry building programs and to pursue breakthrough ideas to help Ontario’s economy and healthcare systems.”
Added Dr. David Young, Chair of the OBIO Board of Directors and CEO, Actium Research Inc., “Five years ago, sixty CEOs of Ontario bioscience companies came together and launched OBIO to address the industry needs created by the 2008 financial crisis. Over 350 people from around the province have committed thousands of hours to the Ontario Bioscience Economic Strategy Team to develop and implement a plan for the industry and identify high impact initiatives. Today we are seeing great results from OBIO and we look forward to working with government and industry to continue to build a robust bioscience industry in the next five years.”
About OBIO® The Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization (OBIO®) is a not-for-profit, membership-based organization engaged in the development of an integrated health innovation economy for Ontario that will become a leader in providing health technology to the international marketplace. OBIO advances this goal through advocacy, promotion and strategic leadership and via collaborative partnerships with industry, academia, patients and government.
OBIO Contact Gail Garland President and Chief Executive Officer gailgarland@obio.ca 416-673-6619
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