Québec, May 19, 2015 – Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard and the Honorable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, accompanied by Jacques Daoust, Minister of the Economy, Innovation and Exports, Sam Hamad, Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity and Minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale region, and Régis Labeaume, Mayor of the City of Québec, today announced the awarding of financial assistance totalling $74.5 million to the firm Medicago.
This assistance will serve for the construction of a complex in Québec’s Espace d’innovation D’Estimauville that will group together the company’s head office, research and development activities, a pilot plant and a commercial plant with an annual production capacity of 40 to 50 million doses of quadrivalent vaccines (that fight four strains of the influenza virus). This investment project, evaluated at $245 million over three years, will lead to the creation of more than 200 new jobs in the Capitale-Nationale region, on top of the firm’s 180 existing positions, by the year 2019.
“ I had the opportunity to meet some of the directors of Medicago at the Economic Forum in Davos last January. Such missions help forge important contacts, attract investment and solidify projects. Today, this Medicago project move forward in the Capitale‑Nationale region, which will now be able to position itself as a world hub in the field of infectious disease control and vaccine production,” said Philippe Couillard.
“ By encouraging companies like Medicago to invest and expand, our government is giving new impetus to its economic growth and job creation objectives,” noted the Honourable Denis Lebel.
The Department of the Economy, Innovation and Exports, through Investissement Québec as its agent, is granting a $60 million loan to Medicago for this project. The Government of Canada, for its part, is supporting the venture with an $8 million repayable financial contribution, and the City of Québec is providing $6.5 million in assistance.
“ Quebec is truly an ideal location for investment in life sciences, notably due to its state-of-the-art infrastructure, skilled labour force and indisputable expertise in research and development. This Medicago project, which I had the opportunity to discuss with company directors at the BIO International Convention in 2014 and in Davos last January, is helping to further build on that expertise, and of that we are extremely proud!” Jacques Daoust stated.
“ In addition to help create quality jobs, provide career opportunities for future graduates, the expansion of Medicago will strengthen collaboration and synergy among the various stakeholders, teaching institutes and research centres that are active in the region’s biotechnology sector,” added Sam Hamad.
“ The announcement of this major investment project in the life sciences sector confirms once again the tremendous economic assets we have here in Québec, a city known for the knowledge, research and innovation of its local enterprises as well as for the creativity and quality of the skilled labour force that contributes to its sustained economic growth. We are proud to support Medicago as it takes up residence in the new Espace d'innovation D'Estimauville and creates specialized jobs,” said Régis Labeaume.
“ Medicago has chosen Québec City for this project because of our qualified employees, the availability of experienced skilled labour force, the presence of world-class research infrastructure, the commercial vitality of the region and the support of the governments of Canada, Quebec and the City of Québec,” explained Andy Sheldon, President and CEO of Medicago Inc.
Founded in 1999, Medicago specializes in the plant-based manufacture of novel vaccines and therapeutic proteins. In addition to its Québec City facility, the company operates a vaccine production plant, notably for the seasonal influenza virus, in North Carolina, in the United States.
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Harold Fortin
Spokesperson for the Premier
Office of the Premier of Quebec
Tel.: 418 643-5321
Vincent Rabault
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development for
Quebec Regions
Tel.: 514 496-1282
E-mail: vincent.rabault@miga-maig.gc.ca
Melissa Turgeon
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Economy,
Innovation and Exports
Tel.: 514 499-2552
Salim Idrissi
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Labour, Employment
and Social Solidarity and Minister responsible
for the Capitale-Nationale region
Tel.: 418 643-4810
Paul-Christian Nolin
Press Secretary
Office of the Mayor of Québec
Tel.: 418 641-6434
Media Relations
Canada Economic Development for
Quebec Regions
Tel.: 514 283-8818
E-mail: media@dec-ced.gc.ca
Jean-Pierre D’Auteuil
Media Relations Coordinator
Communications Directorate
Department of the Economy, Innovation
and Exports
Tel.: 418 691-5698, ext. 4868
Cell.: 418 559-0710
Dominique D’Anjou
Communications Coordinator
Secrétariat à la Capitale-Nationale
Tel.: 418 644-5039
David O’Brien
Communications Advisor
City of Québec
Tel.: 418 641-6210
Chantal Corbeil
Spokesperson
Investissement Québec
Tel.: 514 873-7161
