Life Sciences & Health
Why Halifax?
Halifax features a growing health and life sciences industry with major research centres, leading hospitals, and a vibrant post-secondary sector that supports R&D and commercialization.
More than 100 companies across a range of industries, from medical devices to digital health to bioproducts.
Emerging medical technology cluster bolstered by Halifax's IT strengths and vibrant innovation ecosystem.
A critical mass of students and scientists undertaking R&D in areas like neurology, multi-organ transplants, cardiology, and cancer research.
Heavily export-focused featuring partnerships with multinational biotechnology giants including Pfizer, Merck, Canada Ltd., Abbott Laboratories, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson.
I know the potential of the growing of Life Sciences on the east coast. I believe the Atlantic region will become a ‘life sciences Silicon Valley.’
- Ali Mousavi, co-Founder & CEO, MOC Biotechnologie
The Halifax Advantage
Established tech and innovation ecosystem
with 2,100+ companies, ranging from startups to multinationals, undertaking world-class R&D and commercialization of innovative products and services.
Home to major research centres,
anchor institutions, and state-of-the-art incubator facilities such as the QEII Health Sciences Centre, Life Sciences Research Institute, the Brain Repair Centre, National Research Council, Genome Atlantic, and Innovacorp Enterprise Centre.
Easily access global markets
and do business across European, North American, and Caribbean time zones all on the same day.
World-class infrastructure
including fibre optic networks with gigabit connections, a self-generating power grid, and reliable, fast, and secure data transmission between North America and Europe through the EXA Atlantic and EXA Express transatlantic cables at >53 Tbps.
Download the Sector Snapshot
Learn more about Halifax's life and health sciences sector, and discover why Halifax is the right location for your business.
Incentives
Whether starting, relocating or expanding a business, you will benefit from a number of incentives at both the federal and provincial level to help you invest in Halifax. We’ll be glad to assist you in identifying the ones that best suit your needs.
Genome Atlantic
Through research competitions, Genome Canada provides up to 50% of project funding. Genome Atlantic has enabled nearly $100 million in research across Canada since its inception in 2000.
Healthcare Venture Fund
The Healthcare Venture Fund allocates $270 million to develop innovations in precision medicine, biotech, and medical imaging. The fund is focused on supporting existing portfolio companies.
Notable Players
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ABK Biomedical
A medical device company dedicated to the research, development and commercialization of innovative embolic therapies. ABK Biomedical recently raised a Series B round equal to C$40 million - the largest venture capital round ever in Atlantic Canada.
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BlueLight Analytics
Founded out of Dalhousie University in 2009, BlueLight Analytics aims to build technologies that improve light-curing outcomes globally and promote value-based care in dentistry. Today, BlueLight Analytics use data to make dental practices run as efficiently as possible.
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Appili Therapeutics
Matches novel drug development programs with clearly defined patient needs in infectious disease. Appili has built a pipeline of assets designed to address a broad range of significant unmet medical needs to address some of the most urgent threats to global public health.
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Immunovaccine
A clinical-stage immuno-oncology company that wants to transform the way we engage human immunity to address some of the most complex, devastating diseases in today’s medical landscape.
Industry Associations and Organizations
After moving your business to Halifax get connected with groups of like-minded individuals through local industry associations and organizations. Expand your networks, gain access to the benefits and find solutions to industry problems together.