Health

Companies in Richmond’s Health sector develop innovations for medical research and patient care in Canada and globally. Activities range from research & development to manufacturing and licensing. Products and services that make up this cluster include diagnostics technologies, drug development, clinical research, simulation technologies, regenerative medicine, biopharmaceuticals and medical devices.

Businesses locating and growing in Richmond have the support of world-renowned research institutions such as the UBC Life Sciences Institute and Genome BC, as well as highly skilled workers. Robust government incentives are available, such as a 35% tax credit for annual research and development expenditures.

What’s New

Richmond entrepreneur donates $10M to give hospital much-needed ‘facelift’

Dual HIV-Syphilis rapid test approved for use in Canada

Kromek and Analogic announce collaboration agreement to develop next generation Computer Tomography (CT) Detector Technology.

SignalChem awarded top 10 Canada Contract Research Organization companies 2022

LifeLabs’ President and CEO named one of the “Top 25 Biotech CEOs” for the second consecutive year

Company Profiles

	SignalChem  A leader in the development of innovative cell signaling products to meet the needs of scientist in basic research and drug discovery, the company has utilized its core capabilities of cellular signaling, molecular biology and protein biochemistry to generate more than 750 products as part of its current and continuously expanding product portfolio. In 2019, SignalChem was named one of the well-established global manufacturers of Biotechnology Reagents by Inkwood Research.
	bioLytical Laboratories bioLytical empowers clinicians and the public to make informed health decisions, faster. Combining made-in-Canada quality with a global focus, bioLytical is a leader in the field of rapid in vitro medical diagnostics.Its range of one-minute INSTI® tests provide instant, accurate results for infectious diseases including COVID-19, HIV, Hepatitis C (HCV) and Syphilis among others. In 2022, bioLytical was named as one of BC’s fastest-growing companies for the sixth year.
	Change HealthCare In 2017 parts of McKesson Corporation and Change Healthcare Holdings merged to create a new healthcare information technology company called Change Health Care, a global company operating in 120+ locations around the world. The Richmond location employs over 700 people. Originally founded in 1986 as ALI Technologies, it was the first company to develop an electronic picture archiving and communications system based on personal computer/client server technology to help hospitals capture, view, store and manage images from ultrasound exams. In 2020, Change Healthcare won the 2020 Compliance & Ethics Awards.
	MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. MDA and the Centre for Surgical Invention and Innovation (CSii) at McMaster University are collaborating on the development of a platform of Image Guided Autonomous Robotic products, the first of which is designed to perform image-guided breast biopsies. In 2022, MDA won a $269-million contract from the Canadian Space Agency for the next phase of the Canadarm 3 program.
	Advanced Cyclotron Systems Inc. Advanced Cyclotron Systems Inc., a Richmond-based company that is part of the Ebco Group of Companies, manufactures cyclotrons for the international nuclear medicine community. Its customers include radiopharmaceutical companies, universities and government agencies from around the world, that rely on TR cyclotron systems for the production of radioisotopes. In 2022, the company won Company of the Year (export) Award at the Technology Impact Awards.
	Fusion Genomics Fusion Genomics develops identification tests for pathogens using proprietary technologies in combination with Next Generation Sequencing. Their ONETestTM and FUSIONCloudTM data analysis platform enable rapid identification of the genetic signatures of human pathogens and cancers accurately and economically. In 2022, the company received $1 million from CQDM to study the ONETest RTI assay. In 2022, Fusion was named a finalist as Innovative Enterprise of the Year.
	Allscripts Allscripts is a leader in healthcare information technology solutions that advance clinical, financial and operational results with a client base including 180,000 physicians, 2,500 hospitals and 19,000 post-acute organisations. The company’s product and service offerings include electronic health records and booking systems resulting in a single patient record. Allscripts acquired Eclipsys, and the Chicago-based company with several international locations maintains the Richmond office that now employs over 120 skilled staff. In 2022, Constellation Software Inc. bought the Allscripts Hospital and Large Physical Practices business segment.
	Analogic Corporation  Analogic Corporation develops and manufactures unique signal-processing technology solutions for the world’s most advanced diagnostic medical imaging equipment and in the 1970s were pioneers in CT scan technology. In 2013 Analogic acquired Richmond-based ultrasound imaging systems designer and manufacturer Ultrasonix for $83 million. The company maintains its Sonix Design Centre among Richmond, BC’s life sciences cluster.
	Neovasc Inc. Neovasc Inc. is a Richmond-based specialty medical device company that develops, manufactures, and markets products for the rapidly growing cardiovascular marketplace. Products include the Tiara™ technology in development for the transcatheter treatment of mitral valve disease, the Neovasc Reducer™ for the treatment of refractory angina. In 2020, Neovasc was selected as a finalist at the Fierce Innovation Awards, LifeSciences Edition.
	Viva Pharmaceutical Inc. Founded in 1994, Viva Pharmaceutical Inc. is the biggest GMP-certified pharmaceutical and natural health food products manufacturer in B.C., with 80 people at its 52,000 square foot facility in Richmond. The company has an R&D division focused on the development and discovery of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products. The company also provides custom manufacturing, private labelling, and testing services for retailers, resellers and manufacturers. In 2019, Viva’s CEO donated $1 million to Richmond Hospital Foundation.
	Biocurex Inc. BioCurex, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Richmond that develops and commercializes products for early cancer diagnoses using a proprietary blood test based on the RECAFtm tumor marker. Subsidiary OncoPet Diagnostics Inc. launched a veterinary version of this blood test for animals. Biocurex Inc. been granted patents in the United States, Australia, Norway, Europe and China and patents have been applied for and are pending in other major worldwide markets.
	Applied Biological Materials Inc.  Applied Biological Materials Inc. provides products and services related to life science research and drug development, including technologies such as RT-PCR, antibodies, siRNA, cell immortalization, and adenoviral and lentiviral expression systems. ABM also offers custom services to create solutions at its research lab.
	GenomeMe Canada  GenomeMe is at the forefront of the movement to make precision medicine a new paradigm for healthcare. From its newly renovated ISO certified facility, the company uses powerful DNA sequencing and quantification technology to develop genetic tests and diagnostic kits that are radically customizing patient care. GenomeMe was awarded 13th Biggest Life Sciences Company in B.C. in 2019.

Search our Business Directory for a complete listing of all companies in Richmond’s Health sector.

Workforce & Research

Workforce

BioTalent Canada is the HR partner of Canada’s bio-economy. Through projects, research and product development BioTalent Canada connects employers with job seekers, delivers human resource information and skills development tools so the industry can focus on strengthening Canada’s biotech businesses. Those interested in a career in the bio-economy are invited to view the PetriDish Job Postings. A listing of regional education programs are listed below.

• UBC Life Sciences Institute
• UBC Faculty of Medicine
• UBC Biomedical Engineering Program 
• SFU Faculty of Health Sciences 
• SFU Faculty of Science 
• SFU School of Engineering Science  
• SFU MBA in Management of Technology/Biotechnology  
• BCIT School of Health Sciences
• KPU Faculty of Health
• National Biomanufacturing Training Centre (NBTC)

Research

Incentives

Companies developing new products and innovations in the Health sector may be eligible for incentives such as research and development funding and academic partnerships.

Mitacs connects companies with highly-skilled graduate students and post-doctoral fellows through research projects which address a key business or technology challenge faced by the company.

Tax Credit for Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) are available up to 35% on expenses related to to experimental development, applied research, basic scientific research and certain types of technical support work.

National Research Council (NRC) Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) program provides Health SMEs with technical assistance, financing and business advice that mean the difference between success and failure in a competitive global industry. NRC-IRAP also links SMEs to original equipment manufacturers, which can help pull innovative companies up the technology ladder.

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) offers accelerated immigration for qualified skilled workers and includes an international post-graduate stream where applicants can put their natural, applied or health sciences post-graduate degree to work in B.C. 

Venture Capital Programs encourage investments in British Columbia businesses by providing British Columbia investors with a 30% refundable tax credit. 

British Columbia Tax Credits encourage business investment and innovation. Provincial tax incentives and exemptions exist for R&D, international business activity, as well as machinery & equipment investments.

National Science & Engineering Research Council underwrites up to 100% of project costs when working with a research team from a university or college to help achieve a business goal or solve a problem in the Health field. 

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) offers funding opportunities for four themes of health research: biomedical, clinical, health systems services, and social, cultural, environmental and population health. The CIHR funds researchers at public research institutions in BC including UBC and its affiliated institutes, such as the B.C. Cancer Agency.

Canada Strategic Innovation Fund supports large projects over $10 million by providing repayable and non-repayable contributions to firms in Canada’s industrial and technology sectors.

Use our Funding Portal to search a database of all grants, loans and financing available to Health related companies.

Industry Networks

Featured Industry Partner:Vancouver Bioinformatics Users Groups (VanBUG)

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