The Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF) is investing up to $368,048 in Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation (API) to grow its team in Calgary, expand existing services and establish a life sciences commercialization centre in the Biohubx facility.
OCIF’s investment will strengthen Calgary’s life sciences ecosystem by sustaining and expanding one of the sector’s commercialization assets. It will improve pathways for companies to develop, test and bring innovations to market, enabling more life sciences businesses to grow in Calgary.
“Calgary is home to hundreds of health and life sciences companies and researchers who are solving global challenges,” said Brad Parry, CEO of the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund and President and CEO of Calgary Economic Development.
“This investment fills a gap in the commercialization lifecycle, ensuring those companies can access the space and tools needed to validate and scale their innovations.”
Expanding commercialization pathways in Calgary
The funding will extend API’s services and capacity across multiple areas in Calgary and help startups and scaleups advance products from lab to market. API is expected to support 16 companies and create two high-skilled jobs over two years.
Companies will have access to a broad range of commercialization supports, including contract research services, regulatory advice and shared office and laboratory infrastructure within the Biohubx facility.
“There's incredible momentum in Alberta's life sciences sector right now, and with that comes tremendous opportunity. API has worked closely with innovators and entrepreneurs in Calgary for some time, supporting their growth and development, but with limited onsite engagement, we couldn’t always bring our full capacity to bear,” said Andrew MacIsaac, CEO, Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation.
"With the support of OCIF, we’re now able to seed an enhanced offering that the sector truly requires as it takes off, enabling made-in-Alberta growth in a big way for Calgary."
Building connections across the life sciences ecosystem
With a presence in the Life Sciences Innovation Hub (LSIH) since 2020, API will work with LSIH to create a graduation-pathway partnership to help local companies move early ideas into development.
“Innovate Calgary supports investments that strengthen the life sciences ecosystem and expand the choices and opportunities available to startups in Calgary,” said Nima Najand, Executive Director, Innovation and Intellectual Property, Innovate Calgary / Life Sciences Innovation Hub.
“API’s expertise in the technical and regulatory development of health sciences fills an important gap in the local innovation ecosystem and contributes to the sector’s continued growth.”
As one of Canada’s largest not-for-profit life sciences commercialization organizations, API strengthens the sector through fee-for-service support, commercialization programs and training. API has supported hundreds of commercial and innovator projects, contributing to more than $700 million in value creation across the industry.
Helping companies grow and scale in Calgary
Biohubx has served as a launchpad for life sciences and health tech companies to advance promising technologies from development to commercialization.
It will be relaunched as an API Incubator, with API taking a direct role in operations and combining Biohubx’s infrastructure, staff and physical space with its commercialization model and expertise.
“Having access to a space like Biohubx was instrumental in Nanotess’ growth and commercialization journey. During our time there, we achieved key milestones including regulatory approval, establishing our biomanufacturing processes, certifying our quality management system, building our team, and launching our product in Canada,” said Megan Leslie, CEO of NanoTess.
“Given the impact this space has had on companies like ours, this investment feels like a natural progression. Seeing an organization like API expanding their current presence will only strengthen the support available to innovators and entrepreneurs across the region."
"We're excited to see this investment build on an already strong foundation, helping more companies grow, scale, and bring new technologies to market while continuing to strengthen Calgary's innovation ecosystem.”
Discover how OCIF’s strategic investments across sectors are strengthening and diversifying Calgary’s economy.
With top talent and institutions, Calgary’s health and life sciences sector is home to more than 140 companies developing solutions in human and animal health.