Life Sciences Series: Article 3 – Genomics
British Columbia’s genomics moment: How world leading science, public investment, startup grit, and international partnerships are powering the province’s life sciences sector
British Columbia (B.C.) is widely recognized as a global leader and powerful hub for genomics research and commercialization. Investing in B.C.’s genomics sector means tapping into a fertile network of scientific excellence, government-backed infrastructure and high-growth ventures that are redefining precision health, sustainability and the future of medicine.
Roots: A Nobel prize and public infrastructure that seeded an industry
The story begins with world class science and the Nobel prize winning work, collaboration, and advocacy of Dr. Michael Smith beginning in the 1980s and a priority to recruit talented young scientists and engineers to University of British Columbia (UBC)’s Biotechnology Laboratory (now the Michael Smith Laboratories). Armed with the 1993 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his foundation work in gene science, Dr. Smith was then instrumental (together with Dr. Victor Ling) in initiating B.C.’s Genome Sciences Centre (GSC) at BC Cancer Agency in 1999. The Centre quickly became a key player in the Human Genome Project and established itself as a world leader in genomics research. A year later, Genome British Columbia (Genome BC), the province’s not-for-profit genomics funder and convenor was established as a deliberate and strategic public investment to further drive genomics work by B.C. researchers. These organizations together with the University of Victoria Genome BC Proteomics Centre create and provide the research, technical and seed financial resources that powers genomics work by B.C. researchers and startups, empowering the ecosystem to move from one-off experiments into repeatable and scalable innovations. This foundational base and the ongoing talent attraction and retention is a defining strength for British Columbia’s life sciences cluster.
Today, B.C.’s genomics ecosystem is an interlocking set of capabilities:
- World-class sequencing and translational labs. The Genome Sciences Centre brought high-throughput sequencing, computational biology and cancer genomics expertise into the province’s public research infrastructure, enabling downstream clinical and commercial applications in precision health and environmental monitoring.
- Translational funder and convener. Genome BC has played the role of early-stage investor, partnership builder and ecosystem developer — identifying and funding programs across health, environment and agriculture that move genomics from discovery into applied solutions.
- Commercial R&D and platform companies. Companies built on British Columbia science — from antibody engineering to secure genomic data platforms — have scaled both technology and market reach, turning local expertise into exports and partnerships.
- Academic excellence partnered with industry scale-up: Canada’s Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub (CIEBH) leverages genomics-enabled innovation to bridge academic discovery and industry application. Led by the University of British Columbia, CIEBH brings together post-secondary institutions across B.C. and Canada with Genome BC, Health Research BC, and private-sector partners. With Genome BC support, five health research projects are fast-tracking lifesaving therapies — from antimicrobial resistance to RNA medicines —strengthening Canada’s ability to move innovation from lab to market and respond rapidly to future health threats.
Together these layers (public labs, convening funders, product companies, academic, industry scale-ups) are what make genomics a durable economic force in British Columbia rather than a sequence of isolated research papers.
Companies defining the cluster
The strength of that efficiency is best seen in the wave of companies redefining modern medicine across Greater Vancouver.
AbCellera, perhaps B.C.’s best-known biotech, rose to prominence during the pandemic when it developed two antibody medicines for COVID-19 using technology built on local advances in high-throughput screening and genomics. The company’s model of pairing platform science with global pharma partners has become a blueprint for how B.C. startups can develop and scale technology. Today, AbCellera is focused on developing an internal pipeline of medicines to alleviate suffering, extend lives and improve health.
Aspect Biosystems develops Bioprinted Tissue Therapeutics integrating cell- and gene-based technologies. In 2023, pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk partnered with B.C.’s Aspect Biosystems on a deal worth over US$2.6 billion to leverage Aspect’s bioprinting technology to develop treatments for diabetes and obesity. In 2024, Aspect partnered with the governments of Canada and British Columbia on a $200 million project to advance the development of Aspect’s biomanufacturing capabilities, platform technology and pipeline of disease-modifying treatments.
STEMCELL Technologies is a global leader in providing specialized reagents, instruments and culture media for life science research, making it an essential supplier for labs worldwide. Founded and based in Vancouver, it is Canada’s largest biotech company and a critical part of the local life sciences infrastructure. The company’s products are vital for research involving stem cells, immunology and gene therapies.
The province’s ecosystem tells a similar story: deep science, steady public support and global market pull.
A province built for genomic innovation
British Columbia’s genomics story is as much about ecosystem design as it is about science. Top talent and public institutions provided the soil; startups planted the seeds; and today, a network of globally connected companies is bearing fruit.
From antibody discovery to radiotherapeutics and genomic data platforms, B.C.’s scientists and entrepreneurs are proving that innovation built on public vision can compete on the world stage.
As global demand for precision medicine, sustainable bio-innovation and secure data systems accelerates, British Columbia is ready — not just to participate, but to lead.
Investor Alert: Unlock the Future of Innovation in British Columbia
Discover British Columbia’s life-sciences edge at the upcoming J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference (January 12–15, 2026, San Francisco) — join a curated delegation of top-tier BC firms and global investors convening for high-impact meetings and deal-flow. Hosted by Life Sciences British Columbia, this platform offers access to world-class biotech innovators from B.C., including platform-sciences, cell/gene and radiopharmaceutical leaders.
Whether you’re looking for emerging investment opportunities or strategic partnerships, this is your gateway to British Columbia’s results-driven ecosystem on the global stage.
https://lifesciencesbc.ca/event/bc-at-jp-morgan-healthcare-week/
Explore other opportunities or connect with us at: www.britishcolumbia.ca/industries/life-sciences
For more information on British Columbia Government’s initiatives supporting the life sciences sector read:
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