WINNIPEG, Manitoba – Manitoba’s
growing life sciences cluster may soon be able to get its ideas to market
faster with a $1.19 million investment from Western Economic Diversification
Canada (WD). Biomedical Commercialization Canada, a life sciences business
accelerator, will use the funds to provide innovators and entrepreneurs
with the business tools they need to become successful.
Steven
Fletcher, Member of Parliament for Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia, made
the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Carol Skelton, Minister
of National Revenue and Minister of Western Economic Diversification.
“Manitoba’s life sciences cluster
presents economic opportunities for the province and promises medical innovation
for all Canadians,” said Fletcher. “Canada’s new government
made a commitment to creating an environment that supports jobs and growth,
and we are honouring that commitment to Canadians.”
Innovators and entrepreneurs looking to move
new technologies from the laboratory to the marketplace need specialized
assets and infrastructure in areas such as business operations, management,
data security and quality control. Biomedical Commercialization Canada (BCC)
will provide these business applications in a secure and accessible environment
that will also allow clients to collaborate with partner companies here in
Manitoba and around the world.
“By creating a shared business environment,
we can reduce cost and provide clients with the programs they will need to
be successful,” said Joe Wery, BCC President and CEO. “We will
not only provide the business tools but we will also show them how to use
these tools to establish best business practices that will increase their
investment opportunity.”
The life sciences sector in Manitoba consists
of companies and research institutions that have expertise in cardiovascular
and respiratory diseases, infections diseases, diagnostics, medical devices,
and pharmaceuticals. Examples include the National Research Council Institute
for Bio-diagnostics, the Canada Science Centre for Human and Animal Health,
the St. Boniface General Hospital Research Centre and the University of Manitoba.
Biomedical Commercialization Canada Inc.
is a not-for-profit organization founded by the National Research Council
of Canada and the Province of Manitoba. Led by a private sector board of
directors, BCC designs, implements and manages a suite of technology commercialization
services and programs for Canadian biomedical technology and related firms.
Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD)
is a department of the Government of Canada that works in partnership with
the provinces, industry associations and communities to stimulate and encourage
diversification of the western economy, as well as to represent the interests
of the West in national decision-making.
For additional information, contact:
Jacquie Sippola
Communications Officer
Western Economic Diversification Canada
(204) 983-0280
Marshall Ring
Vice-President, Strategic Business Development
Biomedical Commercialization
Canada
(204) 272-2403
WD Toll-Free Number:
1 888 338-WEST (9378)
Web Site: WD is online at
www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
Backgrounder
Investment and business partnering decisions are
made on the value of a business opportunity, not just the functionality
of a technology. The importance of building a business on sound
business processes cannot be understated. A recent document identified
that five years after a company is formed, 85% of the value of
a company resides in the business processes while 15% of the value
is in the technology or product.
Providing start-up companies with the business tools
that enable good business processes will therefore enable start-up
companies to grow and measure the highest value element of their
business.
BCC is pleased, to now have in place for client use,
a complete business infrastructure. The BCC business structure has
five key areas of functionality:
Business Operations – Internet access,
Printing, Office and Infrastructure Applications, Citrix /
Terminal Services (remote and secure access)
Business Communications – Telephony,
Conferencing (audio and web), E-Mail, Fax, Web Site Hosting
Business Management – Enterprise Resource
Planning, Financials, Business Analytics, Customer Relationship
Management, Project Management, Service Management, Manufacturing,
Distribution and Sales
Business Infrastructure – Network, Servers,
Notebook PCs, Storage, UPS
Business Security – Anti-virus/Anti-spam,
Firewall, Data back-up, Secure Access, Managed Services Monitoring
Prior to BCC providing these business tools, new
companies would use tools that could not measure operational performance
efficiently or would spend a significant amount of their limited start-up
monies for the systems that could benchmark their performance. Now
however, these key assets that drive the value of a company and improve
the probability of investment and survival are accessible.
For more information about BCC, its programs and
services, please contact:
Marshall Ring
Vice-President, Strategic Business Development
Biomedical Commercialization
Canada
(
204) 272-2403
