Consolidation and collaboration are the current buzzwords in Canadian innovation and these laudable concepts are best exemplified with the recent merger of two vibrant life sciences research and technology development organizations.

The decision by Vancouver-based CDRD and Montreal’s NEOMED to officially merge—under the name adMare BioInnovations—brings together the talent, expertise and research infrastructure necessary to create what its president describes as a “sustainable industrial powerhouse”.

Perhaps just as importantly, adMare aligns with current policies and strategic frameworks such as Canada’s Innovation and Skills Plan, the findings of the federal Health/Biosciences Economic Strategy Table, the Québec Life Sciences Strategy and the landmark 2017 report, Canada’s Fundamental Science Review.

As a small nation with limited resources facing intense global competition, Canada urgently requires out-of-the-box thinking such as adMare—a national organization of scale equipped to leverage and commercialize investments in life science R&D. As separate entities, CDRD and NEOMED thrived under enlightened leadership and strong public support, forging critical links to industry, research organizations such as TRIUMF and CQDM, as well as patients and their caregivers.

Those resources can now be combined and leveraged for the benefit of Canadians and industry, providing powerful new intellectual property, de-risking promising research, and nurturing the talent essential for future innovation and economic growth.

All eyes will be on adMare as it works to achieve global competitiveness in drug development, company formation and scale.

Mark Henderson, Senior Correspondent