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BioAlliance releases outstanding 2021 results for bioscience sector growth

New survey data indicates revenue of $575 million and more than 2,300 employees in the sector

The Prince Edward Island Bioscience Cluster has surpassed 2025 growth targets and is well on its way to becoming a billion-dollar industry by 2030.

The PEI BioAlliance today released the results of a survey of more than 65 employers in the sector based on 2021 business performance. Private sector company revenues reached $575 million, a $200 million increase over 2020, while investment attraction topped $110 million, almost doubling the previous year. Sector workforce has increased by 400 full-time jobs since the pandemic began, now standing at 2,300 employees. Business-led R&D was $28.2 million, up $8 million, while annual tax revenues to governments were estimated at $87 million annually, up 53% since 2018.

“The accelerated growth and strength of PEI’s bio sector is very encouraging, particularly in these challenging economic times,” said Oliver Technow, Board Chair, PEI BioAlliance and CEO, BIOVECTRA. “Sector investments in research, new product development, and manufacturing capacity have successfully translated to sales revenue from global markets.”

Private sector investment in new facilities and equipment was more than $69 million, adding to an $85 million investment in 2020. Significant revenue increases were achieved in sales of animal health vaccines, human health diagnostics, contract manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals, cannabis-based value-added products, and natural health products.

Rory Francis, CEO of the PEI BioAlliance said that the combination of strong growth of the Cluster’s larger companies and commercial success of earlier stage companies has been an excellent recipe for sustained development of the Cluster.

“It’s truly remarkable to see the range of breakthrough technologies and products coming from our Cluster companies that are bringing new solutions to global challenges in human, animal, and fish health,” said Francis. “Collaboration and cooperation among businesses, academic and research partners, and governments at all levels continues to make PEI a great place to grow bioscience-based businesses.”

The rapid growth of the Cluster has put pressure on two key enablers of continued success: the availability of skilled personnel, and the availability of specialized R&D and manufacturing facilities. In 2021, the BioAlliance established the Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) to create a national talent pipeline for the bioscience sector. Locally, Holland College, Acadia University, UPEI, and Skills PEI have become important CASTL partners. CASTL opened its headquarters and Biomanufacturing Training Facility in Charlottetown in September. Earlier this year, with support from the Government of Quebec, CASTL announced plans to open a biomanufacturing training facility in Montreal. Additional facility locations are being considered to ensure broad geographic access to this type of training across Canada.

The opening of the new BioManufacturing Incubator (BMI) in early 2022 has been a critical step in ensuring availability of leasable space for manufacturing scale up. The six unit, 20,000 sq ft facility was fully leased before completion pointing to the urgent need to add to the continuum of pilot plant and scale up manufacturing space meeting international regulatory standards.

Together, these initiatives are key elements in the BioAlliance’s plan to build out the province’s capacity and reputation as a national centre of expertise in biomanufacturing.

“From vaccines and drugs to fight disease, to sustainable food production and climate change mitigation, biotechnology holds solutions to some of the biggest challenges of our time,” said Francis. “Prince Edward Island is making its mark.”

Emergence Incubator recognizes Regis Duffy As Mentor Emeritus

For the past 8 years, PEI bioscience pioneer and founding mentor of the Emergence Incubator Regis Duffy has made a lasting impact on the bioscience community in Atlantic Canada. Celebrated at an event in October, he has now formally retired from his role and was recognized as Emergence’s first-ever Mentor Emeritus for his dedication and service to the program and the bioscience sector in PEI and Atlantic Canada. Regis was a mentor in the Critical Path Team Mentorship program, and his direction and leadership has been invaluable to many bioscience companies.

“On behalf of the Emergence team and all of the companies in the program, we wanted to extend our thanks, and share how privileged we have been to have had Regis’ participation in this program and the experience and advice he has shared,” said Jason Cleaversmith, Executive Director, Incubation and Infrastructure, PEI BioAlliance.

Regis Duffy’s career is an inspiration to many of those working in the bioscience sector, who have dubbed him “the godfather of bioscience in PEI.” In 2021, his daughter published a book about his career entitled The Chemistry of Innovation: Regis Duffy and the story of DCI.

About Regis Duffy

Dr. Regis Duffy is the former Dean of Science and Chairman of the Chemistry Department at the University of Prince Edward Island. In 1970, he founded Diagnostic Chemicals Limited (now Sekisui Diagnostics), a chemical manufacturing company engaged in the manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients, fine chemicals, enzymes, and chemical reagents.

After serving as Chair of the UPEI Board of Governors from 1996 to 2006, Regis was named Board Chair Emeritus in 2007 for his contributions as a board member and chair, and for his many years of service to the university. His many honours include being named a member of the Order of Canada, receiving the PEI Region Canadian Red Cross Humanitarian Award, being awarded Atlantic Canada’s Innovator of the Year and Atlantic Canada’s Entrepreneur of the Year, and being inducted into the PEI Business Hall of Fame. He is the founding chair of the PEI BioAlliance, a leadership organization for the bioscience cluster, and he is a member of the NRC Institute for Marine Biosciences-Institute for Nutrisciences and Health (IMB-INH) Advisory Committee. In April 2008, a state-of-the-art bioscience and health research centre at UPEI was named the Regis and Joan Duffy Research Centre.

Somru BioScience Announces Appointment of Chief Operating Officer

Charlottetown-based biotechnology company announces the appointment of Meletios Roussis as Chief Operating Officer

Charlottetown, PE – Somru BioScience Inc., a leading biotechnology company based in Charlottetown, PEI, dedicated to developing breakthrough antibody technology for research, diagnostic and therapeutic applications, has announced the appointment of Meletios Roussis as Chief Operating Officer, effective November 14, 2022.

Mr. Roussis has over 10 years of experience in the biotech industry with a focus on business development to expand into new markets and the acquisition of new clients, leading teams in regulated bioanalytical programs, process optimization, and implementation of new technologies. He has developed talented scientific teams and mentored employees to reach their full potential.

A new role at Somru, as Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Roussis will report to CEO Mohammed Moin and lead the large molecule bioanalytical service business of Somru. Mr. Roussis will add oversight to Somru’s global business operations including the development of growth strategies across a number of geographic regions and enhancement of Somru’s cloud based Aegryris™ software suite and connectivity with its clients, enhancing the client experience.

“Meletios brings a decade of diverse experience in research and development, scaling businesses, and blending entrepreneurial spirit with technical aptitude,” said CEO Mohammad Moin. “We are thrilled to have him join the team at Somru”.

“I look forward to building on Somru’s biosimilar experience to engage with more clients, expanding services into novel therapeutics and vaccines. Somru has provided bespoke renowned client service via its proprietary software and automation systems, and I look forward to sharing and expanding that experience with our present and future clients” said Mr. Roussis.

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Media Contact:
Susan Holland
Somru BioScience Inc.
902-367-4322
susan.holland@somrubioscience.com

About Somru BioScience Inc.
Somru BioScience Inc. is an innovative biotechnology company based out of Prince Edward Island, Canada. Somru has developed a portfolio of reagents, ELISA kits, innovative biosimilar comparability tools and a cloud based Aegryris™ software suite to enable companies to significantly reduce the cost and timeline for biosimilar development. Somru technologies reduce early development risk by identifying clinically meaningful differences prior to running expensive clinical trials. The company has customers throughout North and South America, Europe, Australia, and Asia.
somrubioscience.com

Emergence Program Builds On Past Success And Grows Capacity To Support SMEs

Photo left to right: Dr. Jimy Mena, MP Sean Casey, Erin MacKean (on screen), Dr. Jason Cleaversmith, Minister Bloyce Thompson

Atlantic Canada’s bioscience sector has become a key driver of economic growth and diversification for the region. Made up of research institutions, non-government organizations, private business and government, the Atlantic Canadian bioscience sector consists of approximately 900 organizations that together employ more than 10,000 people.

That is why the Government of Canada is investing to help the PEI BioAlliance support the continued development of small and medium-sized (SMEs) bioscience companies in Atlantic Canada.

Investment ensures continuation of mentorship and commercialization support

Today, Sean Casey, Member of Parliament for Charlottetown, announced a non-repayable contribution of $2,350,000 through the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program to the PEI BioAlliance. The investment will build the capacity of the Emergence Bioscience Business Incubator (Emergence) to deliver resources, mentorship and networking opportunities for SMEs in the sector. The announcement was made on behalf of the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA.

The Province of P.E.I. is also contributing $825,000 towards the project through Innovation PEI.

This contribution will support Emergence 3.0, the next phase of the virtual incubator program that accelerates the growth of startups and early-stage bioscience companies through one-on-one mentorship, strategy services, networking and resource sharing. This renewed funding for Emergence will build on a successful model managed by a team of experienced staff and volunteer mentors, and foster greater collaboration within the innovation ecosystem in Atlantic Canada. The project is expected to benefit 55 bioscience businesses annually.

Today’s announcement demonstrates the Government of Canada’s commitment to develop a highly skilled workforce and strengthen the region’s bioscience sector to ensure the success and sustainability of the industry.

Quotes

“The success of Atlantic Canada’s bioscience cluster is recognized across Canada and around the world. Strategic investments, like the one announced today, will ensure a continued path of growth for the sector by strengthening a pipeline of innovative and high-potential companies that can compete in the global marketplace, thereby enhancing the economic benefits to the region.”

  • The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA.

“As it is in many sectors, connectivity and knowledge sharing is key to the success of the bioscience industry. Participation in proven mentorship programs like Emergence from the PEI BioAlliance, will increase a company’s viability, accelerate its path to the marketplace, and create strong foundations for future growth. Growing a skilled, well-resourced workforce is critical to building a strong, resilient future for all Atlantic Canadians.”

  • Sean Casey, Member of Parliament for Charlottetown

“Emergence has been one of the main drivers for growing the bioscience industry in Prince Edward Island. The program has played an important role in both mentoring the industry and attracting companies to Prince Edward Island. This investment provides supports for start-ups and early stage companies that will help grow the industry, our workforce and provincial economy.”

  • The Honourable Bloyce Thompson, Minister of Economic Growth, Tourism and Culture for the Government of Prince Edward Island

“Emergence is a proven, metric-based success story that has been instrumental in supporting early-stage bioscience companies and a broad stakeholder base across the Atlantic Canada region. With funding support for the next phase of Emergence, we can build on our past success and continue to work with our clients and collaborators to support the growth of Atlantic-Canada’s bioscience ecosystem.”

  • Dr. Jason Cleaversmith, Executive Director of Incubation and Infrastructure, PEI BioAlliance

Quick facts

  • Emergence is a bioscience incubator that accelerates the growth of Atlantic Canadian start-ups and early-stage companies moving from concept to commercialization.
  • During Emergence 2.0, participating companies raised over $297 million in capital, grew employment numbers from 289 to 849, and increased revenues from $36 million to over $129 million.
  • Formed in 2005, the PEI BioAlliance is a private sector-led not-for-profit organization that is responsible for developing and coordinating the strategy for the growth of the Prince Edward Island bioscience cluster.
  • The funding announced today is provided through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s (ACOA) Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program.

Spotlight On Chinova’s CEO Natasha Dhayagude, The CANIE 2022 Entrepreneur Of The Year Winner

Natasha Dhayagude, CEO of Chinova Bioworks (Chinova), a Canadian-based natural ingredient company, was awarded the CANIE Entrepreneur Of The Year Award. The CANIE Awards are the Innovators & Entrepreneurs Foundation’s (IEF) chief flagship program recognizing excellence in innovation and foundership across Canada.

The IEF’s CANIE Awards program recognizes and celebrates excellence in innovation and entrepreneurship among racialized and equity-deserving communities throughout the nation. The awards build a network of people and organizations, plus they inspire generations to be leaders through their stories of perseverance and disruption. There are seven categories of CANIE Awards, and winners receive a $10,000 cash prize, an Air Canada travel gift card, plus a promotions video and marketing support for the semi-finalists and winners.

The CANIE Entrepreneur of the Year Award recognizes trailblazers who demonstrate exceptional leadership and have an ongoing impact on Canadian entrepreneurship.

“Natasha Dhayagude demonstrates superior leadership as co-founder and CEO of Chinova, a company whose mission is to use nature to protect and reduce food waste. Most recently she raised $10.5 million in capital investment from venture capitalists in the food-technology industry,” said Jenn Juby, Chief Executive Officer of the Innovators & Entrepreneurs Foundation. “As a business leader, she prioritizes equality in her business, with 90% of women hired at Chinova holding STEM positions. These are a few of the reasons why Natasha was a stand-out to the awards adjudication team as winner of the 2022 CANIE Awards Entrepreneur Of The Year.”

Natasha Dhayagude’s vision for Chinova is to add value throughout the supply chain. The company upcycles the stems of white button mushrooms, usually thrown away by farmers, to develop Chiber™, their natural, clean-label preservation ingredient. Manufacturers using Chiber™ (mushroom extract) improve the brands’ quality, freshness, and shelf-life of their finished products. Products containing Chiber™ enable distributors to have longer-lasting finished products, which allows them to expand their global reach and increase food security. Retailers reduce spoilage costs with products containing Chinova’s mushroom extract, which enables brands to provide consumers with natural, healthy, clean-label products resulting in reduced food waste.

“Thank you to the sponsor Ownr and the Innovators & Entrepreneurs Foundation for naming me the 2022 CANIE Awards Entrepreneur Of The Year winner. Being included with the other great entrepreneurial finalists is a privilege,” said Natasha Dhayagude, CEO and Co-founder of Chinova Bioworks. “When I started this adventure with my co-founder, David Brown, we were excited to combine our love of science and mushrooms to develop a natural, clean-label food and beverage ingredient that could reduce food waste. Seeing others find our work as groundbreaking as we do is truly amazing. ”

IEF hosted three in-person events this year to celebrate winners from coast to coast, and is hosting their Virtual Awards Gala, scheduled to air at 6 PM EST on November 16, 2022.

About Innovators & Entrepreneurs Foundation
Founded in 2019, the Innovators & Entrepreneurs Foundation (IEF) is a charity that aspires to support small and medium sized business (SMB) founders and innovators from racialized and equity-deserving communities across Canada. Their mission is to advocate for, support, educate, and celebrate innovation and entrepreneurship among under-represented business owners as they navigate the unfair barriers of institutional, structural, and interpersonal biases.

About Natasha Dhaygude
Natasha Dhayagude is Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Board Member at Chinova Bioworks. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Science from the University of New Brunswick and spent the early part of her career immersing herself with entrepreneurs and start-ups at Planet Hatch and Venture for Canada. There she gained vital skills such as building business models and fundraising to ensure optimal success when she co-founded Chinova Bioworks. Ms. Dhayagude also serves as the Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN) Board Member.

Recognitions
• Startup Canada Young Entrepreneur of the Year (2017)
• Startup Canada’s Woman Entrepreneur of the Year (2019)
• Atlantic Business top 30 under 30 (2019)
• Thrive Female Founder Award (2021)
• CANIE Award Entrepreneur Of The Year (2022)
• RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Innovation Award Finalist (2022)

About Chinova Bioworks:
Chinova Bioworks started in 2016 with the mission of using nature to protect and reduce food waste. The company developed a natural fiber extract from the stems of white button mushrooms to make stable, broad-spectrum preservation ingredients that protect products from spoilage caused by yeast, mold, and harmful bacteria. Their ingredients are natural, healthy, and integrate seamlessly into various foods and beverages during processing. This technology enables manufacturers and lab operators to improve their finished products’ quality, freshness, and shelf-life, resulting in increased consumer satisfaction for using natural, clean label ingredients, all while reducing food waste. The company has raised $10.5M in investment with a team representing 90% of women in STEM.

Through sustainable practices and upcycling, Chinova plays a crucial role in making the food and beverage industry happier, healthier, and better for the environment.

Visit www.chinovabioworks.com for more information.

Pegasus Biotech Nominated for Emerging Business Excellence Award

Pegasus Biotech is excited to announce that the company has been selected as a finalist for the 2023 Greater Charlottetown Chamber of Commerce President’s Excellence Awards in the category of Emerging Business Excellence.

“We are honored to be short-listed for this award. Our success and rapid growth are due to the hard work put in by Pegasus’ employees, and the support of the PEI and Canadian biotech ecosystem over the past two years of operation,” said Dr. Yimy Mena, CEO of Pegasus Biotech. Over the past 24 months, Pegasus Biotech has experienced a 10-fold growth in revenue and size, signing contracts with clients in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. This has established the company as a global player in the biotechnology CRO industry and the CRO of choice for DNA vaccine development services.

The mission of Pegasus Biotech is to enable their clients to bring cutting edge innovation to the global human and animal health markets. Their area of expertise is ensuring that client biopharmaceutical and vaccine development activities result in commercially viable products that are compliant with global regulations.

To learn more about Pegasus’ services, click here.

About Pegasus Biotech Inc: Pegasus Biotech Inc. is a full-service biotechnology contract research organization. They offer both process and analytical development services to the global pharma industry. They specialize in vaccine and biopharmaceutical development and are global leaders in DNA vaccine development.

Sekisui Diagnostics PEI: Title sponsor for the Motionball Marathon of Sport

Sekisui Diagnostics PEI was the title sponsor for the Motionball Marathon of Sport for the first time on 22-Oct-2022! Motionball is a national non-profit organization that empowers young Canadians to be leaders in their communities, raising funds, and awareness for Special Olympics through inclusive social and sporting events. It works to ensure that individuals with intellectual disabilities living in PEI are included, supported, and celebrated.

This day not only brings awareness to the Special Olympics movement but allows people with and without intellectual disabilities to interact, build lifelong friendships, and ultimately create more inclusive communities. Motionball is working to promote positivity and inclusion, demonstrating that there is #NoGoodWay to use the “r-word” (retard). This word is hurtful, outdated, and brings back memories of being bullied and excluded for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

The Motionball PEI committee did an amazing job to successfully organize this event and raise funds for such a wonderful organization. The Special Olympic athletes made the day so special with their energy and spirit!

Motionball 2022 raised $32,000 for Special Olympics PEI! Sekisui Diagnostics had 16 players (two teams) and 7 volunteers join in this event! It was a great day of fun, new friendships, and positivity!

 

The Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) officially opens Charlottetown biomanufacturing training facility

Photo left to right: Hon. Bloyce Thompson (Minister of Economic Growth, Tourism and Culture), Hon. Lawrence MacAulay (Minister of Veterans Affairs), John Milne (NIBRT), Penny Walsh-McGuire (CASTL), Oliver Technow (BIOVECTRA), Sean Casey (MP for Charlottetown), Gordon McCauley (adMare), Rory Francis (PEI BioAlliance), Paul-Xavier Etter (CASTL)

The Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) today officially opened their new CASTL Biomanufacturing Training Facility located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

The new training facility contains state-of-the-art pilot-scale bioprocessing equipment that will allow employees to gain practical skills that are immediately transferable to process scale-up and clean room environments. The facility is equipped with laboratories and classroom spaces built to deliver the highest quality training to industry professionals. With this new facility, CASTL can deliver on-site customized training for entry-level employees through to senior management as well as post-secondary students.

The Charlottetown facility was made possible through a contribution of $2,335,000 from the Government of Canada, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), and $800,000 from the Province of Prince Edward Island. CASTL is supported by National Lead Partner adMare BioInnovations and its adMare Academy.

CASTL is the exclusive provider of the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) licensed training programs in Canada. Based in Ireland, NIBRT develops and delivers state-of-the-art training and education programs for the world’s leading biopharmaceutical manufacturing companies.

According to BioTalent Canada’s most recent labour market research, the Canadian bioscience and life science sector will need to hire an additional 65,000 new workers by 2029. CASTL will deliver on the economic demand for individuals who are work-ready to meet the skills and talent needs for Atlantic Canada’s bioeconomy as well as Canada’s fast-growing biomanufacturing sector.

Earlier this year, with support from the Government of Quebec, CASTL announced plans to open a biomanufacturing training facility in Montreal. Additional facility locations within Canada are being considered to ensure broad geographic access to this type of training across Canada.

Quotes:

“The official opening of CASTL’s first biomanufacturing training facility in Canada is a major milestone for our organization and we appreciate the ongoing support from our network of partners and all levels of government. As the demand for highly skilled personnel continues to grow, it is a critical time for Canada’s biomanufacturing sector.”

  • Penny Walsh-McGuire, Executive Director, CASTL

“Collaboration has been key to building PEI’s global reputation in the bioscience sector. The Government of Canada will continue to work with other government partners, private businesses, and the Island’s post-secondary institutions to forge a path of growth for this vital sector.”

  • Sean Casey, Member of Parliament for Charlottetown, on behalf of the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA

“New beginnings will start right here in this facility. Whether it’s the launch of a new career or the creation of a new product, this new facility is buzzing with possibilities, and is filled with the bioscience industry leaders of tomorrow.”

  • Bloyce Thompson, Minister of Minister of Economic Development, Tourism and Culture

“At adMare we build companies, ecosystems, and talent to drive the growth of the Canadian life sciences industry. We are proud to partner with CASTL to make sure the biomanufacturing segment of our life science sector will have the right people to do the job, here in Canada.”

  • Gordon McCauley, President & CEO, adMare BioInnovations

“Congratulations to all the CASTL team on today’s official opening. NIBRT is delighted to be collaborating with CASTL and its partners in providing world-class workforce development programs for the biopharmaceutical manufacturing industry in Canada. The availability of a competency-based workforce development programs in state-of-the-art training facilities is of crucial importance to support rapid growth of the biopharma industry. We look forward to the continued success of the CASTL team and the further strengthening of the relationship with NIBRT.”

  • John Milne, Training Director, NIBRT

“This unparalleled training facility fosters the next generation of Canadian biomanufacturing talent needed to support global companies like ours as we expand our capabilities further into the biological products that are the future of improved patient care. The impact of having this CASTL facility here in Atlantic Canada solidifies this region’s place as a major player in Canada’s biosciences sector.”

  • Oliver Technow, CEO, BIOVECTRA

For more information on the CASTL training programs, visit CASTLCanada.ca or email info@castlcanada.ca

 

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Media Contact
Chelsey Rogerson
Director of Communications and Marketing
CASTL
C: 902.213.7351
E: chelsey@castlcanada.ca


About CASTL
The Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) is a first-of-its-kind partnership between academia, industry, and government to address the future skills needs of the Canadian life sciences sector. Specializing in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, CASTL delivers on the economic and sectoral demand for individuals who are work-ready to enter, thrive and meet the needs of the fast-growing Canadian biomanufacturing industry. CASTL is the exclusive provider of the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) licensed training programs in Canada. Based in Ireland, NIBRT develops and delivers state-of-the-art training and education programs for the world’s leading biopharmaceutical manufacturing companies and partner academic institutions. CASTL is supported by National Lead Partner adMare BioInnovations and its adMare Academy. The adMare Academy is dedicated to providing the specialized training required to foster the next generation of highly qualified personnel who will drive the growth of Canadian life science companies.
www.castlcanada.ca

About adMare BioInnovations
With a wealth of globally competitive scientific discovery, Canada is primed to lead the life sciences world. To make this a reality, at adMare BioInnovations, we use our scientific and commercial expertise, specialized R&D infrastructure, and seed capital to build strong life sciences companies, robust ecosystems, and industry-ready talent — and re-invest our returns back into the Canadian industry to ensure it is sustained for the long-term. As part of our commitment to build talent, we have created the adMare Academy, dedicated to providing the specialized training required to foster the next generation of highly qualified personnel who will drive the growth of Canadian life science companies.
www.admarebio.com

The Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) launches first series of hands-on training courses

The Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) has launched their first series of hands-on training short courses to be delivered at the new CASTL Biomanufacturing Training Facility located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. As the exclusive provider of the National Institute of Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) curriculum, CASTL will deliver theoretical and hands-on competency-based training.

The instructor-led short courses consist of lectures which are delivered online or in person, enhanced by practical sessions delivered at the CASTL training facility. The facility contains state-of-the-art pilot-scale bioprocessing equipment that allows trainees to gain practical skills that are immediately transferable to process scale-up and clean room environments. It is also equipped with laboratories and classroom spaces built to deliver the highest quality training to industry professionals.

“This initial short-course offering in Prince Edward Island marks a major milestone in CASTL’s national biomanufacturing training program,” said Penny Walsh-McGuire, CASTL Executive Director. “We continue to hear from employers across Canada about the need for practical hands-on training to support Canada’s rapidly expanding biopharmaceutical manufacturing sector. This is an important step forward in further developing the skills and training ecosystem”

“Training highly-qualified personnel who will drive the growth of the Canadian life sciences industry is at the heart of our mission, and part of this objective is to make sure that we will be able to answer the demand in biomanufacturing. These new short courses from CASTL do just that”, added Dr Christine Allen, VP, Ecosystem of adMare BioInnovations. “Our adMare Academy trains undergrads to industry executives and provides them with the knowledge, skills, and network to start or grow their career in the Canadian life sciences sector. We are proud to be the lead national partner of the CASTL Programs, which allows for hands-on biomanufacturing high-in-demand training and ensures Canadian companies have the talent they need to succeed today and in the future.”

CASTL’s new Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Onboarding Boot Camp, a 4.5-day hands-on training course, introduces the necessary fundamental knowledge and practical operations needed to onboard new employees successfully and prepare them to navigate a biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility. It includes both hands-on practical training and theoretical knowledge covering good manufacturing practices (GMP), good documentation practices (GDP), gowning, aseptic techniques, and how to operate the common equipment for all jobs in a manufacturing environment.

“Upon successful completion of the course, trainees will be prepared to navigate their way through a biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility,” said Paul-Xavier Etter, CASTL’s Director of Technical Training. “The boot camp is designed for onboarding newly hired operators and technical staff as part of their onboarding in a modern biopharmaceutical or bioprocessing facility, as well as an individual working in a supporting role in manufacturing, such as QA auditors.”

Courses include:
• Introduction to Bioprocessing
• Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Onboarding Boot Camp
• Introduction to Downstream Processing
• Introduction to Upstream Processing

To register or learn more, visit www.castlcanada.ca/short-courses or contact Sidney Reid at sidney@castlcanada.ca

About CASTL
The Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) is a first-of-its-kind partnership between academia, industry, and government to address the future skills needs of the Canadian life sciences sector. Specializing in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, CASTL delivers on the economic and sectoral demand for individuals who are work-ready to enter, thrive and meet the needs of the fast-growing Canadian biomanufacturing industry. CASTL is the exclusive provider of the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) licensed training programs in Canada. Based in Ireland, NIBRT develops and delivers state-of-the-art training and education programs for the world’s leading biopharmaceutical manufacturing companies and partner academic institutions. CASTL is supported by National Lead Partner adMare BioInnovations and its adMare Academy. The adMare Academy is dedicated to providing the specialized training required to foster the next generation of highly qualified personnel who will drive the growth of Canadian life science companies.
www.castlcanada.ca

About adMare BioInnovations
With a wealth of globally-competitive scientific discovery, Canada is primed to lead the life sciences world. To make this a reality, at adMare BioInnovations, we use our scientific and commercial expertise, specialized R&D infrastructure, and seed capital to build strong life sciences companies, robust ecosystems and industry-ready talent — and re-invest our returns back into the Canadian industry to ensure it is sustained for the long-term. As part of our commitment to build talent, we have created the adMare Academy, dedicated to providing the specialized training required to foster the next generation of highly qualified personnel who will drive the growth of Canadian life science companies.
www.admarebio.com

Canada’s Food And Biotech Island Just Got Bigger With Chinova Bioworks New Manufacturing Space In The Bioscience Manufacturing Incubator Building On PEI

Chinova Bioworks (Chinova), a Canadian-based natural ingredient company, hit a turning point by expanding its manufacturing space inside the Bioscience Manufacturing Incubator (BMI) on PEI. This milestone was made possible through the company’s partnership with PEI BioAlliance, the operator of the BMI.

Chinova chose to move its manufacturing to the BMI because its state-of-the-art building focuses on sustainability and energy efficiency, which makes them more environmentally and eco-friendly. The new space increases Chinova’s production from pilot scale to 20x their current capacity levels with plans to expand their operational team in PEI. The Government of Canada, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), provided a $250,000 repayable contribution for the purchase of manufacturing equipment to help Chinova meet the new production levels available within the Bioscience Manufacturing Incubator. The additional staff and manufacturing capabilities allow the company to expand its client base to larger businesses that can make a prominent footprint in reducing food waste.

The BMI is a newly built 20,000 sq/ft facility operated by PEI BioAlliance, a private sector-led not-for-profit organization dedicated to growing Prince Edward Island’s bioscience industry. The BMI is designed for start-ups to transition from pilot-scale to full production levels while meeting the strict regulatory standards required for producing natural products.

Until this point, Chinova Bioworks was fortunate to have worked from the BioFoodTech facility in Charlottetown. BioFoodTech is a 30-year-old institution providing professional technical services to food and bioprocessing industries. The food grade space allowed Chinova to meet its early production goals, all while in a GMP environment. Chinova’s success highlights the importance of a scale up space prior to moving to BMI.

Co-founders Natasha Dhayagude and David Brown met in 2015 at an entrepreneurship accelerator and incubator center in Fredericton, New Brunswick. There they found a common interest in science and the study of mushrooms. Fast forward to 2016, to the founding of Chinova Bioworks, whose core values are to find sustainable sourcing and innovative ways to reduce food waste through food preservation.

Looking to nature, the company developed a natural and sustainable alternative to artificial preservatives with its white button mushroom extract called Chiber™. Chinova has become a disruptor within the food preservation market with Chiber™, its natural clean-label preservative, which improves food and beverage products’ quality, freshness, and shelf-life resulting in increased consumer satisfaction while reducing food waste.

Over the years, Chinova has formed strategic partnerships with government agencies and investors to enable them to reach their expansion goals. Those agencies are the PEI BioAlliance, Emergence, BioFoodTech, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), Innovation PEI, Natural Products Canada, National Research Council of Canada (NRC), and Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC). Those investors are DSM Venturing, Rhapsody Venture Partners, and Rich Products Ventures.

Quotes:
“Chinova Bioworks is proud to be a part of Canada’s food and biotech island on PEI. This new state-of-the-art space allows Chinova to expand our workforce and technology within the natural products industry as a sustainable, eco-friendly, and trustworthy preservation ingredient supplier.”
– Natasha Dhayagude, CEO and Co-founder, Chinova Bioworks

“Our new space inside the BMI increases our staffing and gives us 20x more production capacity. This space will boost customer satisfaction and broaden our target market to giant CPG companies requiring large-scale production.”
– David Brown, COO and Co-founder, Chinova Bioworks

“Investments in Atlantic Canada’s growing bioscience sector are bringing skilled employment, forward-looking companies and new opportunities for collaboration to the region. It is exciting to see the many innovative ideas that companies like Chinova Bioworks are taking to the global stage. I am proud that the Government of Canada continues to support Prince Edward Island’s world-class bioscience research and incubator infrastructure.”
– Sean Casey, Member of Parliament for Charlottetown, on behalf of the Honourable Ginette
Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA

“The bioscience industry in our province is growing bigger and better every day. Chinova is a perfect example of a company that has grown from concept to production right here, in Prince Edward Island. Government looks forward to a continued relationship with Chinova as it expands into global markets and develops even more innovative products.”
– Bloyce Thompson, Minister of Economic Growth, Tourism and Culture

“Today’s official opening of Chinova’s new manufacturing facility is the culmination of a highly collaborative effort from key partners within Atlantic Canada’s bioscience ecosystem. The PEI BioAlliance through its business incubator, Emergence, looks forward to continuing its support of Chinova Bioworks as they continue to grow and meet the increasing demand for their products.”
– Dr. Jason Cleaversmith, Executive Director, Infrastructure and Incubation, PEI BioAlliance

“Chinova’s plant-based food preservatives are a great example of how more sustainable food production can improve human health as well as deliver environmental benefits. SDTC is proud to support this innovative Canadian company as they take the next step in their journey to commercialization. Congratulations to the team at Chinova Bioworks as you open your new manufacturing facility in Charlottetown!”
– Leah Lawrence, President and CEO, SDTC

Quick Facts:
● Chinova is a semi-finalist for the Food Waste Reduction Challenge for the Novel Technologies Streams through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
● Chinova received FDA GRAS for natural preservative ingredient, Chiber™
● The company received Series A funding for $6 million (USD).
● Chinova recently won the NutraIngredients-USA Award in the Start-up category and the Exporter of the Year Award (Under $5M in Export Sales) from Opportunities NB (ONB)

About Chinova Bioworks:
Chinova Bioworks started in 2016 with the mission of using nature to protect and reduce food waste. The company developed a natural fiber extract from the stems of white button mushrooms to make stable, broad-spectrum preservation ingredients that protect products from spoilage caused by yeast, mold, and harmful bacteria. Their ingredients are natural, healthy, and integrate seamlessly into various foods and beverages during processing. This technology enables manufacturers and lab operators to improve their finished products’ quality, freshness, and shelf-life, resulting in increased consumer satisfaction for using natural, clean label ingredients, all while reducing food waste. The company has raised $10M in investment with a team representing 90% of women in STEM.

Through sustainable practices and upcycling, Chinova plays a crucial role in making the food and beverage industry happier, healthier, and better for the environment.

Visit www.chinovabioworks.com for more information.

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