On May 13th, OBIO hosted the 2019 Queen’s Park Health Science Industry Showcase which attracted over 100 attendees, including Ministers, MPPs, government officials and health science industry leaders who came to see the latest in health care innovation from our displaying companies.
Throughout the day, OBIO and a contingent of health science industry CEOs held one-on-one meetings with Ministers and MPPs to discuss issues facing Ontario’s health science industry as well as OBIO’s two most recent reports.
Launched at the Health Science Industry Showcase, Bridging the Talent Gap: Reporting on Year 2 describes how OBIO’s Health 2 Business Bridge (H2BB) program has, and continues to, respond to the health science industry need for business talent. This work-based learning program has placed over 100 talented business trained interns in more than 60 Ontario companies and over 90% are now employed in highly skilled, full-time positions in the field in which they were educated.
In addition, OBIO discussed with Ministers and MPPs our recent report on access to markets and the establishment of a network of early adopter health organizations, Achieving Impact Through Adoption of Innovation Health Technologies: Establishing Early Adopter Health Organizations as an Accelerator for Economic Growth in Ontario. A network of early adopter health organizations can facilitate the evaluation of and access to promising health science innovations that could benefit human health and wellbeing through their use in the Ontario healthcare system.
The day concluded with an evening reception that featured 15 health science companies who displayed and demonstrated their cutting-edge technologies, providing elected representatives and government officials the opportunity to experience first-hand the incredible innovations being developed in Ontario.
Showcase attendees heard remarks from Hon. Bill Walker, Minister of Government and Consumer Services, Catherine Fife, MPP Waterloo, John Fraser, MPP Ottawa South, and Mike Schreiner, MPP Guelph on their support for OBIO, Ontario’s health science industry and the need to work together to provide opportunities for Ontario’s health science companies to access local markets and develop talent. Members of OBIO’s MPP Health Science Caucus were also on hand to meet companies and share their support for Ontario’s health science industry.
The 2019 OBIO Queen’s Park Advocacy Day and Health Science Industry Showcase provided great opportunities for the health science industry to engage with Ontario decision-makers and demonstrate the incredible innovation that this industry is developing and the potential to strengthen an integrated health innovation economy here.
