Saskatchewan is home to one of the most vibrant bioscience clusters in Canada and the heart of the country's agricultural biotechnology sector.
Ag-West Bio, Saskatchewan's bioscience industry association, works with innovators and investors to help bring research to market. Learn more about our commercialization services by browsing this site...
Saskatchewan Biosciences is a database that serves as a guide to the cluster’s many resources and services. Find information on key organizations, infrastructure, capabilities and opportunities.
Ag-West Bio is Saskatchewan’s bioscience industry association and bioeconomy catalyst. Since 1989, our mandate has been to help move research to market and grow biobusiness in the province. A not-for-profit and membership-based company, Ag-West Bio members include public research institutions, private companies (from start-ups to multinationals), research service organizations, economic development and commodity groups. Members represent biotechnology, bioproducts and biofuels, environment, health and nutrition sectors.
Entrepreneurs come to Ag-West Bio for pathfinding and help in creating sound business plans. We collaborate with the Raj Manek Mentorship program, matching protégés with experienced mentors. Our commercialization fund assists early stage companies, and helps established companies expand their businesses.
By hosting numerous networking events, conferences and seminars, Ag-West Bio helps the bioscience community stay connected and informed. We lead delegations to relevant international conferences, and help arrange meetings for incoming delegations interested in doing business or finding partnerships in Saskatchewan. Ag-West Bio also participates with like-minded associations from across Canada in creating awareness of the bioscience industry.
Ag-West Bio is funded by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture and Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada's Growing Forward II program, with support from Western Economic Diversification Canada and the National Research Council’s Industrial Research Assistance Program.
History
Ag-West Bio: A catalyst for Saskatchewan's bioeconomy
In the 1980s, the biotech industry was emerging in Saskatchewan. The provincial government and the University of Saskatchewan decided a catalyst was needed to accelerate the growing ag-biotech sector.
In 1989, Ag-West Biotech was launched with a mandate to provide leadership and assistance for Saskatchewan’s ag-biotech cluster, aiding in the commercialization of new biotechnologies, helping existing companies grow, and attracting new companies to the province.
Ag-West Biotech amalgamated with the International Centre for Agricultural Science & Technology, absorbing the ICAST investment portfolio in 1997. A re-organization in 2004 saw Ag-West Biotech merge with two complementary provincial associations: Bio-Products Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Nutraceutical Network. Ag-West Bio emerged from the amalgamation with a focus on commercialization of biological applications in agriculture, environment, industry, energy and bioprocessing, as well as nutrition and health.
Since its inception, Ag-West Bio has assisted numerous companies start-up or relocate to Saskatchewan. Ag-West has also helped Canada’s regulatory system keep up with advances in biotechnology, and worked to educate the public through various publications, a website, workshops and seminars. From 1998 to 2004, Ag-West operated the Saskatchewan Agricultural Biotechnology Information Centre (SABIC), a hands-on teaching lab that was open to the public.
Today, our main focus is the commercialization of new technologies.
What we do
What we do
As Saskatchewan's life science association, Ag-West Bio is the province's bioeconomy catalyst. Since 1989, our mandate has been to help grow the province's bioscience sector. We do this through:
Business support
- market analysis and business plan assistance, training and development
- search for innovative research ideas, intellectual property and advanced technologies
- matching protégés with mentors through the Raj Manek Mentorship Program
- Commercialization Fund: early-stage funding for bioscience companies
Communication
- representation on provincial, national and international committees and focus groups
- a website which includes an online directory of Saskatchewan bioscience companies
- Bio-Bulletin online newsletter with articles and events from Saskatchewan’s life science sector
- business development and networking opportunities at Ag-West Bio events
- helping organizations make valuable connections by leading delegations to relevant conferences
- bringing together industry and research leaders for conferences and workshops
Regulatory and policy expertise
- a thorough understanding of current policy and regulations, and their impact on biobusiness
- provide an industry perspective to government
- support the development of a transparent and efficient policy and regulatory framework