At one time, Ontario was home to the world's third-largest biotechnology cluster. Now, according to Cathy Carter, on behalf of the
Ontario Bioscience Industry Organization (OBIO), the sector is struggling for its survival.
In response to the economic challenges facing the bioscience industry, health-sciences leaders from across the province are teaming up to form a group called Ontario Bioscience Economic Strategy Team (OBEST), Carter's organization announced (
.pdf) last week. The team will be seeking ideas for sustainability in the industry. "OBEST is a unique coalition of stakeholders in our health-science industry contributing unmatched breadth in insight and expertise to ensure sustainability and foster growth," says OBEST advisory committee chair Dr. Daniel Billen. "Health-science is a key growth area in Ontario's emerging innovation economy."
Organizers of the group say that they'll be seeking ideas far and wide and then adjusting their strategy as they achieve milestones -- "an ongoing process of renewal and revitalization as we design it to build around the best ideas," according to OBIO President Gail Garland.
Writer: Edward Keenan
Source: Cathy Carter, OBIO