Montreal, November 14, 2016 – On November 7, The Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal held the Forum Stratégique sur les Sciences de la vie attended by more than 400 participants from the industry, and from the research, innovation and health sectors. The Forum particularly aimed to highlight the economic importance of Life sciences in Quebec. Nadine Beauger, Chief Executive Officer of IRICoR (Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer – Commercialization of Research), was invited as a panelist at the event. Ms. Beauger took the opportunity to emphasize “that Quebec has been at the forefront of the implementation for the new model of partnership in life sciences and health technology (LSHT) between the academia and industry. As a cluster of academic research valorization in drug discovery, IRIC-IRICoR is a significant player in the LSHT value chain. We tangibly transform drug discovery research into innovation for the commercialization of highly innovative medicines”. One of the key messages throughout the Forum was that the strong and dynamic Quebec LSHT sector is of high priority for the Quebec Governement, as clearly presented by Dominique Anglade, Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation.
IRICoR also welcomes the Quebec Government initiative announced by Minister Dominique Anglade in her speech introduction for the launch of the BioMed Propulsion program. With a budget of 100 million dollars, the program seeks to encourage start-up companies for the commercialization of life science discoveries, while spurring the interest of of private and foreign financial investors. The sector has the essential tools to develop the next Quebec Strategy for Research and Innovation to be unveiled in Spring 2017.
About the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer – Commercialization of Research (IRICoR)
As Université de Montréal’s cluster of academic research valorization in drug discovery, IRICoR is a not-for-profit organization based at IRIC, with the mandate to accelerate the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapies in cancer, immunotherapy and related fields.
Since its creation in 2008, IRICoR successfully invests in and supports highly innovative projects to rapidly transition basic research discoveries into innovations geared towards the market, through either partnerships with industry or company creation. For more information about IRICoR: www.iricor.ca
About the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC)
An ultra-modern research hub and training centre located in the heart of the Université de Montreal, IRIC was created in 2003 to shed light on the mechanisms of cancer and discover new, more effective therapies to counter this disease. IRIC operates according to a model that is unique in Canada. Its innovative approach to research has already led to discoveries that will, over the coming years, have a significant impact on the fight against cancer. For more information: www.iric.ca.