The Benefits of Doing Business in Ontario

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Compiled By Kristine Archer

Golden Horseshoe
London – Stellar Pharmaceuticals Inc.
“We located Stellar Pharmaceuticals Inc. in London due to our most important asset — people,” says Peter Riehl, president and CEO. “London provides a qualified labour force for our company’s future growth and a quality of life that is second to none, making it easier to attract key personnel. The LEDC and its talented staff have kept Stellar involved in local business networks and provided valuable services that are important to the growth of our business.”

Waterloo –MicoHealth
“Ontario’s capabilities in health informatics are strong,” says Michael Cowan, president of MicoHealth, a growing firm located in the Waterloo Region. “By connecting individuals and health professionals online to confidentially exchange health information and data, our health-care system becomes stronger and state of the art.”

Cambridge – Agribiotics Inc.
“Ontario’s access to outstanding post-secondary institutions makes this an ideal area in which to do research,” says Alison McIver, Agribiotics’ president. “One of the key areas of focus for Agribiotics is the development of innovative biological technologies that expand the scope of the inoculants market. Our research results clearly prove that we have tremendous potential with these patented technologies and we are looking forward to commercializing our extensive product pipeline,” says McIver.

Kitchener – Medicalis.
“Breaking technology boundaries and innovating health systems is key to Ontario’s competitiveness. Our health-care information technology links doctors who order diagnostic tests, like MRIs, to the hospitals and service providers who deliver them,” says Ron Kelly, president and CEO of Medicalis. Located in Canada's Technology Triangle, Medicalis provides web-based solutions that link hospitals, physicians/nurses/nurse practitioners and managed care payers such as Harvard Pilgrim so they may share information throughout the diagnostic testing workflow. The company employs highly trained engineers, computer scientists and clinically-trained professionals and has provided patented technology to companies around the world.

Hamilton – Adjuvant Informatics Corp. .
“The Hamilton Incubator of Technology greatly exceeded my expectations,” says Dan Meyer, co-founder & CEO. “The access to a vast network of business professionals together with the positive exposure the HIT building provides has allowed us to achieve the next level of success much sooner than expected.”

Ancaster – Affinity Biologicals Inc. .
“The advanced academic environment in Ontario has resulted in a highly skilled and motivated workforce for the biotech sector,” says Patricia Hoogendoorn, CFO. “Great people translate into efficient production, quality product and unlimited potential.”

Chatham – Wellington Polymer Technologies Inc. .
“Our reasons for locating our Enviroshake plant facility in Chatham were two-fold,” says Jim Nash, president of WPTI. “First, we were able to secure private financing for the expansion of our facilities. Second, we were able to move into an existing facility and proceed with the retrofit and construction activities in an established factory setting that supplied us with bricks, mortar, and above-average services and leasehold facilities. In addition, the opportunity existed to recruit local people to fulfill our production and technical requirements. From a marketing perspective, the proximity to the U.S. border and Port of Entry services is excellent as it is less than an hour away. The accessibility to the 401 highway corridor is also a bonus, as we are less than 10 minutes from the 401. This is beneficial in terms of our supply chain and distribution channel demands. As an innovator and developer of biotechnology, materials, and products it also offers WPTI direct access to the agricultural sector. An added bonus is that we are close to 10 of the top colleges and universities in Ontario who are now developing programs and disciplines in the biotech area.”

Greater Toronto Area
Mississauga – AstraZeneca Canada Inc.
“Being located in Mississauga is very important to AstraZeneca Canada Inc. It allows for easy access to the only university in Canada that offers a master of biotechnology program, which is the Mississauga campus of the University of Toronto. AstraZeneca Canada Inc. also sponsors a seminar series with this program and offers scholarships. The support of our mayor, Hazel McCallion, is also a significant advantage to being located in Mississauga. Mississauga is a very positive environment (in which) to work and an excellent community for AstraZeneca Canada Inc.’s employees and their families.”

Toronto – Transition Therapeutics Inc.
“Relocating to MaRS on College St. places us at the hub of an internationally recognized centre of excellence that connects innovation and business in the life science space,” Dr. Tony Cruz, chairman and CEO of Transition Therapeutics said after the centre’s official opening last September.

Toronto – Sanofi Pasteur
“Sanofi pasteur is Canada’s largest and only full-scale vaccine company. We have been researching, developing and manufacturing vaccines in Ontario since 1914, and our site plays an important role in sanofi pasteur’s global strategy,” says Mark Lievonen, president, sanofi pasteur in Canada. “Being located in Ontario provides access to talented employees and partnerships that lead to innovative new vaccines.”

Kingston – Millenium Biologix Inc.
“There is so much here to work with: a strong research community, a collaborative spirit uniting public and private sectors, a terrific workforce with access to education for the biotech sector, and people with the know-how to help grow a new-economy business,” says Sydney Pugh, president & CEO, Millenium Biologix Inc.

Toronto – Apotex Inc.
“Ontario’s universities are turning out exceptional graduates in life sciences and because of the province’s extensive co-op system, we’re able to hire and train the ‘best of the best’,” says Jack Kay, president and COO of Apotex.

Toronto – Amgen Canada Inc.
“Amgen benefits from the priority that Ontario has assigned to research and innovation, and biotechnology in particular. Thanks to the social investments made by Ontario, Amgen can build strong partnerships with public institutions such as the University of Toronto at Mississauga for the benefit of all Ontarians,” says Geoff Sprang, director of corporate affairs.

Mississauga – YM BioSciences Inc.
“The Mississauga area is home to a number of biotechnology companies creating a compatible and recognized biotech community, which continues to attract other biotechnology companies. With its ever expanding industrial park areas, office accommodation is readily available at reasonable rates. Our particular location is close to the major highways (Hwy 401 and 427) making it easy access for both employees and visitors. In addition, being five minutes from Pearson International Airport is a convenience appreciated by our executives who travel regularly and for any out-of-town visitors.”

Ottawa-Kingston & Northern Ontario (Timmins)
Ottawa – Liponex Inc.
“We have found Ontario to be abundant with well-qualified scientific staff, which has made recruiting an easy and pleasurable task for us," said Bill Dickie, Liponex president and CEO. “In our experience, Ottawa is particularly attractive to prospective employees, providing many of the cultural and economic benefits of the big city, while offering a safe and friendly environment in which to raise a family.”

Ottawa – Zelos Therapeutics Inc.
“From its humble start in 2000, Zelos Therapeutics Inc. has benefited significantly from Ontario’s R&D incentives and favourable business tax programs,” says Godfrey Marchand, vice-president, corporate affairs. “With access to a supportive industry infrastructure, and impressive science and education being hallmarks of the region, it has always made sense for Zelos to ‘grow up’ in Ottawa. Employees enjoy a good quality of life and the company enjoys its comparatively low operating costs and strategic proximity to the regulatory agencies.”

Kingston – Performance Plants Inc.
“Based in Kingston, Ont., Performance Plants Inc. is an elite plant genetics company working with ag-biotechnology companies in world markets. It is focused on enhancing yield in agricultural crops by enabling plants to handle environmental stresses such as drought. Being based in Kingston has enabled the company to gain rapid access to major markets, attract high-calibre researchers, operate out of state-of-the-art facilities and provide an excellent quality of life for its staff.”

Timmins – Mikro-Tek Inc.
“Developing biotechnology products and processes in northern Ontario has its challenges given the great distances separating our various public and private research facilities,” says Mark Kean, president of Mikro-Tek Inc. “At the same time, the vast geographic expanse of the boreal forest provides a unique biological storehouse of untapped biomass feedstocks and organisms that will supply the building blocks for the newly emerging bioenergy and bioproduct sectors.”