Diverse Industry Presence
The breadth and depth of Barrie’s Health & Life Sciences sector is a testament to the region’s dynamic and innovative landscape. The sector encompasses a wide range of businesses, from medical device manufacturers to healthcare software developers to cutting-edge research laboratories. This diversity not only enhances the region’s economic stability but, together with key anchor institutions, also fosters an environment of continuous innovation and collaboration. The long-time growth and success of companies like Tollos and Sterling Industries highlight Barrie’s role as a leader in medical manufacturing and technology.
Growth Opportunities
Barrie presents ample opportunities for businesses to start up, relocate, or expand in the Health and Life Sciences sectors. The city offers a supportive ecosystem characterized by strategic partnerships and access to skilled talent, along with robust infrastructure and cost-effective greenfield employment lands for both new and growing companies. Companies like ESC Systems Corporation and Southmedic have found success in Barrie’s conducive business environment, leveraging local resources to drive innovation and growth.
There is ongoing critical investment by the city’s anchor Health and Life Sciences institutions that will only fuel expansion of the local cluster.
Barrie’s Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) is now undertaking an ambitious, multi-billion-dollar plan to double the size of its Georgian Drive North Campus over the next 10 years. It will foster tremendous opportunities for research and innovation collaboration within the ecosystem.
And feeding the pipeline of critical talent is Georgian College, which completed a $3-million transformation of 10 labs and learning spaces in the Sadlon Centre for Health, Wellness and Sciences. It includes a new state-of-the-art simulation environment. It is the only one of its kind in Ontario higher education, employing cutting-edge 360-degree virtual reality technology and the world’s most advanced patient simulator.
Collaborative Network and Strategic Partnerships
The region’s Health & Life Sciences sector benefits from a well-developed network of advanced manufacturers, academic institutions, government stakeholders, and business innovation services. In fact, Barrie was a featured stop on Life Sciences Ontario’s provincial roadshow in 2023 that showcased the deep collaboration that underpins a vibrant life sciences sector.
Strategic partnerships drive regional sector growth
Barrie-based organizations collaborate with other prominent entities like Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI), Regional Innovation Centres, Saint Elizabeth Health, and LifeLabs, ensuring the highest quality of healthcare service delivery, fostering continuous innovation and maintaining Barrie’s position as a leader in the sector.
For businesses in the medical or life sciences field considering a move to Barrie, the City and Georgian College offer exceptional resources. Georgian College provides specialized programs in medical lab technology, care therapies, and healthcare administration, creating talent pipelines and strong partnerships that support both existing and new companies in the area.
A unique partnership between Georgian and Lakehead University offers applied, graduate, and post-graduate courses tailored to the needs of the Health & Life Sciences sector. Additionally, partnerships with the University of Toronto and York University through RVH further strengthen the region’s educational foundation. These institutions ensure a steady stream of skilled professionals ready to contribute to the sector’s development.
A terrific example of the collaboration that is possible in Barrie is the partnership between Environmental Systems Corporation and students at Georgian College who developed a SmartCritical Gateway. The web control centre manages all smart devices, triggers alerts and notifications and provides reporting capability in a smart manufacturing environment.
This application prototype was shown at both the Intephex Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Innovation showcase in New York City as well as the Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) Discovery Showcase.
Adaptability and Innovation
Barrie is home to companies that are driving innovation, resilience, and adaptability into the health care space.
For example, metricHEALTH Solutions is developing patient-centric, accessible, secure, and user-friendly digital health solutions, ensuring that patients have the tools and resources they need to take control of their health and that high-quality health care can be delivered in efficient, streamlined and secure ways.
Another example of innovation in action is the Minor Ailment Patient Pathway (MAPP) booking portal and Pink Zone treatment area at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre’s (RVH) Emergency Department (ED). It is allowing patients with non-acute conditions such as colds, flus and other respiratory symptoms, along with minor limb injuries, lacerations, urinary tract infections and skin infections to book same-day or next-day appointments and receive treatment in a designated area outside the ED called the Pink Zone.
Pioneered at RVH, the ED MAPP has decreased ED wait times and overcrowding. The approach, which is being tracked by a rigorous research protocol, is attracting attention from hospitals around the province.
Finally, Orchid Analytics builds custom, cutting-edge artificial intelligence tools that help health care organizations use evidence-based decision-making to solve operational challenges, including capacity management, scheduling, patient flow, staffing, and resource utilization. The results are increased patient access, decreased wait times, and reduced healthcare delivery costs.
In Good Company
Barrie’s Health & Life Sciences cluster is home to numerous successes that underscore the city’s reputation as a hub for medical technology manufacturing excellence.
Environmental Systems Corporation is a leader in critical environment design and the construction and maintenance of cleanrooms. Specializing in creating controlled environments for life sciences companies, including pharmaceutical and nutraceutical manufacturers, pharmacies, medical device manufacturers, biological safety laboratories, and companies specializing in biotechnology, ophthalmic, and regenerative medicine. ESC’s expertise, developed over nearly 40 years, supports the critical needs of businesses requiring controlled, sterile and contamination-free spaces.
Falconfire Technologies offers essential medical products for radiology and endoscopy procedures. Falconfire’s cleaning products, adjustable tables and sinks, workstations, bedside kits, and scope protection solutions enhance workflow efficiency and ensure patient safety.
Southmedic is a distinguished medical device manufacturer known for designing and producing innovative healthcare solutions. Its product range includes advanced surgical instruments, respiratory care equipment, wound closures, PPE, and sterile processing products.
Kinetica 3D serves orthodontists across the Greater Toronto Area with cutting-edge technology and innovative orthodontic appliances. Specializing in clear aligners and retainers, Kinetica 3D provides advanced solutions that allows orthodontists to set up an in-house lab or order custom-made products directly from the Kinetica lab.
MediPharm Labs is a full-service pharmaceutical manufacturer delivering high-quality, innovative cannabis concentrate-based products. The company’s Good Manufacturing Practices-certified facility formulates, tests, processes, packages, and distributes cannabis extracts and advanced cannabinoid-based products to domestic and international markets through white label services and its own brand. MediPharm Labs also supplies clinical trial materials and participates in cannabis research projects.
Tollos designs permanent and portable ceiling and mobile patient lift systems that improve the safety of both healthcare staff and patients and better empower medical teams to provide critical care in hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities and rehabilitation centres. These lifts can be designed for new builds or retrofits and Tollos offers a comprehensive lift system training and education program, along with maintenance services.
Invest Barrie is there for anyone who is ready to explore the opportunities for business expansion or relocation in Barrie. Visit investbarrie.ca to find out what the city is all about, discover all the advantages Barrie offers, and connect with Economic Development professionals today.
