Editorial - 16-15

Canada’s strategy for becoming a global leader in biotechnology is about to receive a major endorsement with the imminent decision by DSM Biologics to double its Montreal bioprocessing facility. Although the deal isn’t final, construction crews are already preparing the site on land leased from its neighbour, the National Research Council’s Biotechnology Research Institute.

The expansion is estimated to be worth more than $450 million, with the potential of even more as DSM aggressively pursues its own strategy to become one of the largest bio-manufacturing companies in the world. It also strengthens the high-tech flavour of the economic boom currently underway in Montreal, and gives the city’s new life sciences cluster strategy some real muscle.

DSM’s decision to locate in Montreal is also a validation of the province’s emphasis on biotechnology as a key economic driver for the emerging know-ledge-based economy. RE$EARCH MONEY has long argued that Quebec’s highly intrusive S&T strategy has been extremely effective in leveraging the province’s strengths in research and skills training.

Quebec offers a text book example of how generous public funding and astute policy can have a major impact on economic growth that makes the most sense for the population as a whole. By working with national and local governments, the province has landed a plum investment that will help transform Montreal into a leading biotechnology jurisdiction.

This is a Made-in-Quebec approach to innovation that should be given serious attention by all provinces.