Amy Swanson, VP Ontario, MedTech Canada, provided a brief overview of the company that included the following:
- A national association that is leading the effort to develop and advance Canada's innovative medical technology industry.
- Represents over 100 member companies in Canada involved in the research, supply and manufacturing of medical technologies (ranging from Canadian-owned to multinationals).
- Work closely with the federal and provincial-territorial governments, health professionals, patients, and other stakeholders.
- The Canadian medical technology market is valued at approximately $7.8 billion, making it the 8th largest worldwide.
- Canada exports approximately $3.1 billion of medical technology and imports $8.6 billion.
- The Canadian MedTech industry employs more than 35,000 Canadians with expertise across multiple disciplines.
- More than 1,500 MedTech companies operate in Canada.
- Advised the 2024 MedTech Conference will be held on October 15-17, 2024, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The conference will be three full days of in-person educational, networking, showcasing and business development opportunities.
- Companies interested in participating in the Canadian pavilion at the conference are encouraged to reach out.
- Three opportunities for engagement: Exhibition space in Canadian Pavilion, Sponsorship of event's (i.e. Global Reception) Safari Showcase.
Caroline Ruggier, Director of International Business, AdvaMed, provided a brief overview of the company that included the following:
- AdvaMed is MedTech Canada's U.S. Counterpart.
- It's the world's largest medical technology trade organization located in Washington, D.C.
- Includes 470 member companies that range from the largest to smallest MedTech innovators and producers.
- Represent various MedTech sectors, such as, diagnostic, digital health, cardiovascular, orthopedics, ophthalmic, surgical tools, would management, dental health, etc.
- Focus areas include SME support, trade, regulation, policy, market access, educational events.
- Will be attending the 2024 MedTech Conference being held in Toronto on October 15-17, 2024.
- Investor forum, over 200 investors attend. Attractive programing designed to assist smaller companies get in front of potential key partners.
Dr. Ali Asghar Houshmand, President, Rowan University, provided a brief overview of the company that included the following:
- In 2013, Rowan became one of only two universities in the nation to offer both M.D. and D.O. medical degree programs.
- Rowan University co-founded Cooper Medical School of Rowan University with Cooper University Health Care,
- With this establishment it welcomed the medical school’s inaugural class in the Summer of 2012.
- In 2021, Rowan University partnered with Virtua Health, establishing the Virtua Health College of Medicine & Life Sciences at Rowan University (VHC).
- Advised that establishing a Medical School in Brampton will be monumental and brings forward opportunities for entrepreneurs.
Carol Altilia, Provost and Vice President Academic, provided a brief overview and history of Sheridan College, which included the following:
- Sheridan College has three campus locations: Davis Campus (Brampton), Hazel McCallion (Mississauga) and Trafalgar Campus (Oakville).
- Sheridan College expands across 5 facilities:
- Animation, Arts & Design
- Applied Health & Community Studies
- Applied Science & Technology
- Humanities & Social Sciences
- Pilon School of Business
- Sheridan offers over 68 programs (degree, diploma and certificate) with over 9,000 students enrolled.
- Offers 1500 placements every year within the community.
- Students are involved in groundbreaking research. 3 of the 5 research programs at Sheridan include: the centre for mobile innovation, centre of elder research, centre for advanced manufacturing and design technology.
- Sheridan Technologies at CAMDT include de-risking technology exploration, robotics, metal 3D Polymer 3D printing, electronic prototyping, simulation and modelling, 3D scanning, laser cutting, machine vision.
- Outlined Industry and Community Partners.
Sonia Dupte, Vice President Institutional Advancement & External Relations, Sheridan College, invited all MedTech partners to connect with Sheridan contacts for potential opportunities. In addition, Ms. Dupte extended an invitation to the Task Force for the next MedTech meeting to be held at the Sheridan campus.
Scott Rasmussen, Vice President of Leasing & Business Development, McMaster Innovation Park, provided a brief overview of the company that included the following:
- The Wet Lab Coalition is a growing group of organizations and individuals committed to tackling Ontario's lack of wet lab space to enable accelerated growth of the province's life science industry.
- It is made up of 30+ organizations including economic development, commercial real estate, private and non-governmental organizations.
- Outlined that a vibrant life science ecosystem requires lab inventory for all company phases: Start-up, Set-up, Scare-up and Commercial. Currently, Ontario's most acute need is at the step-up & scale-up stage.
- Advised a sufficient inventory of wet labs "graduation" space is critical to growing Ontario's life sciences.
- Outlined there is zero percent supply for companies requiring space. Companies are challenged with the possibility of moving their company to accommodate the required wet lab space required for growth.
- Advised that 20% of the demand will be addressed in two years and hundreds of companies are a flight risk.
- Currently there are proposed projects, but the earliest occupancy is 2026-2027, If the projects proceed past the idea stage.
- Advised it's important to keep home grown companies here and expand their growth.
Bethany Moir, Director, Stakeholder Relations and Strategic Projects. Toronto Global, provided the key take always that were learned from other jurisdictions:
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- The Government has a role to play in ‘priming the pump.’
- A Public-private partnership created to manage tools and programs.
- No one-size-fits-all: multi-pronged & market responsive approach is best.
- A long-term (10+ year) approach.
Sabrina Fiorellino, JD, Chief Executive Officer, Director, Co-Founder of Fero, and Alex Scopacasa, Chief Operating Officer, Co-Founder of Fero, provided a brief overview of the company that included the following:
- Companies slogan is "solutions without limits".
- Advised they feel they have we have a solution to the wet lab issue in Ontario.
- Fero operates a 300,000 sqft production facility located in Stoney Creek, Ontario with 63 employees.
- The facility is fully certified with CSA A277, CSA A660, CWB W47.1 and QA/QC Management Program
- Modules are constructed through three-dimensional assembly with 95-98% construction is complete in factory and deliver to site to install.
- Building is constructed off-site, in controlled environment, using the same materials and designing to the same codes and standards as conventionally built facilities – in about a third of the time. Buildings are produced in “modules”.
- Markets currently servicing: emergency management, wet laboratories, remote medical clinics and hospital facilities.
Dr. Joanne Curry, Vice-President, External Relations, Simon Fraser University, was a guest observer and provided some remarks during the meeting.
The following motion was considered.