Synapse Consortium: A Gateway to Canada’s Life Science Innovation

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Hamilton is emerging as a driver of Canada’s life sciences sector. An innovative hub home to dynamic private companies, research hospitals, and leading academic and research institutions, Hamilton’s life sciences cluster is ready for exponential growth.

Hamilton’s world-class capabilities in research and discovery, clinical trials, health care education and life science commercialization have captured global attention. Within the last decade, Hamilton has seen a significant increase in new company formations, capital investment, and attraction of specialized talent.

The creation of the Synapse Life Science Consortium in 2016 marked an inflection point for Hamilton, when its anchor organizations came together to work as one to strategically promote, advance and facilitate life sciences innovation and investment in the region. Together, Synapse’s partner organizations employ 35,000 people.

Hamilton has created the conditions for strategic collaborations to catalyze and accelerate commercialization efforts by innovative life science companies. This environment has attracted global multinationals such as medical device giant Stryker and nurtured home-grown successes such as Fusion Pharmaceuticals. Hamilton’s life science cluster is supporting scaling companies to develop the next generation of innovative health technology. That vision is what drives the members of the Synapse Consortium.

In 2021, more than 200 life science organizations in Hamilton collectively contributed $5.7 billion to the economy. Hamilton boasts more than 6,700 professional scientists, researchers and clinicians, and over 50 research institutes and centres, who collectively conducted $460 million on innovative research.

Collaborative, diverse, and open for business, the city possesses a critical mass of life science infrastructure, assets, and expertise required for companies seeking to compete in Canada and around the globe. “Hamilton is quickly gaining an international reputation as a life sciences leader”, says Norm Schleehahn, Director, Economic Development at the City of Hamilton.

“From a talented workforce to rich research capacities to strong partnerships between academia and industry, life sciences continues to be a large economic driver for the City of Hamilton and major contributor in building a stronger, more technologically advanced economy.”

From talent to funding, and from lab space to commercialization support, all the necessary ingredients can be found in Hamilton. Companies are seizing the opportunity to be part of a growing and dynamic “goldilocks sized” city competing on a global scale – small enough to be nimble in supporting operations and growth, and yet not too large to be lost amongst the noise. Will yours be involved?

The Synapse Consortium represents Canada’s leading health research and education cluster. A strategic broker to the ecosystem, Synapse facilitates initiatives that support the commercialization of health innovation and attract investment to the Hamilton, Ontario region.

To learn more visit www.synapseconsortium.com or contact us at info@synapseconsortium.com


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