Photo courtesy of Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation (API)
When Andrew MacIsaac talks about Alberta’s life sciences sector, he gets to the point, and his message lands in a way you can’t help but notice.
A year ago, the sector’s contribution to the province’s GDP was about $3 billion. Today, it’s climbed to $4.7 billion.
“This is a huge amount of change, and it’s happening while the global market is in decline,” says the CEO of Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation (API), an Edmontonbased nonprofit that builds research infrastructure and helps companies move discoveries toward commercialization.
MacIsaac is referring to a perfect storm of factors that gives Alberta its edge.
It’s building on worldclass research and engineering strengths, it draws on existing petrochemical and agricultural expertise, and offers companies a cost environment they can’t find elsewhere. Together, those conditions mean Alberta is living a different reality than many others in a global biotech downturn.
That sets the stage for Life Sciences Week, a showcase of the province’s fastgrowing ecosystem. From Sept. 2226 in Edmonton and Calgary, panels, tours, and company showcases will highlight how research, investment, and commercialization are converging into one of Alberta’s most dynamic industries.
is the official media partner of Life Sciences Week 2025.
This is only the third year of the event, but it’s already outgrown its pilot phase. In year one, about 1,000 people turned up. By year two, more than 4,000 attended nearly 70 events across the province. This September, organisers expect even more.
Life Sciences Week is coordinated by API, along with partners across both cities.
For MacIsaac, the story of the week mirrors the story of the sector.
For more than a decade, he says the sector held steady, contributing nearly $750 million annually to Alberta’s GDP. Growth accelerated in the years that followed, last year hitting that $4.7 billion number, and the latest report shows $9.2 billion in total economic output and 34,415 fulltime equivalent jobs.
MacIsaac told the timing of Alberta’s rise is part of a broader national shift. He said the economy is changing in ways that are easy to miss unless you’re directly involved.
“Right now we’re at a really interesting time in Canada,” he said. “That’s one of the reasons we launched Life Sciences Week.”
What to expect at Life Sciences Week
Andrea Eriksson, director of partnerships at API, says the design of the week is intentional. Each day is built around a theme to help people see all the key components of the ecosystem.
“It’s a free, accessible event, and it’s supposed to showcase people who might not have a platform otherwise,” says Eriksson.
If you’re looking for details on what to expect this year, here’s how the week will unfold:
Monday Sept 22 in Edmonton
A kickoff at the legislature focused on Alberta’s life sciences corridor, followed by tours of the Biotech Business Development Centre, the research park, and critical drug manufacturing facilities at the life sciences campus. This includes the YEG Life Sciences Tour, which highlights their pharmaceutical and drone capabilities.
Tuesday Sept 23 in Calgary
Venture capital takes centre stage, with reverse pitches, curated matchmaking, and sessions showcasing deal flow in the region. Tours include Innovate Calgary, Nanotess, and the Biohubx facility.
Wednesday Sept 24 in Edmonton
Policy and commercialisation are in focus, with sessions on hospital innovation, venture capital, and rural and Indigenous health. The day closes with preseed and seedstage Life Sciences startups from across Canada raising money live at a Startup TNT event and a keynote from Future Fields, alongside a lab tour.
Thursday Sept 25 and Friday Sept 26 in Edmonton
Company showcases, postsecondary activations, and a wrapup celebration at the Art Gallery of Alberta. Highlights include a pitchstyle game show and a unique artmeetsscience exhibition where postdoctoral researchers display their work as art pieces for community members including startups and business members.
There will be tours of major facilities such as Gilead’s Edmonton site, one of Canada’s major pharmaceutical manufacturing centres, and pitch competitions featuring emerging startups.
Alberta’s opportunity and what it will take
The surge in life sciences is notable not just for its speed, but for its timing. Globally, biotech has been in a downturn since late 2021. Investment has slowed, markets have cooled, and many companies are struggling to raise capital.
Life Sciences Week this year is about showcasing what makes the province, the sector and timing that perfect storm.
“Alberta is filled with lowhanging fruit,” MacIsaac says. “We’ve got some of the best postsecondary institutions in the country. We’ve got worldclass petrochemical and chemical engineering programs. All it really takes is people realizing that they can build their companies here.”
Alberta’s existing strengths are now fuelling its life sciences boom.
Postsecondary research, engineering depth, and chemical processing expertise are being applied in new ways. That includes pharmaceuticals, where much of the value chain starts with petrochemicals — a sector the province already dominates. As MacIsaac puts it, diversifying doesn’t mean moving away from oil and gas, but using it differently.
The same logic applies to agriculture, where crop production and foodprocessing experience provide a base for innovations like functional proteins and natural health products.
Sustaining momentum will require longterm investment though.
“The big challenge for us is ensuring that we have focus and commitment,” says MacIsaac.
Longterm investment comes in because companies need capital to scale in Alberta rather than relocate abroad. API is working to address this by building incubators, technical capacity, and support services that help firms spend R&D dollars locally.
The task ahead is proving growth translates into lasting economic impact in Alberta and across Canada.
For decisionmakers across Canada, the rise of Alberta’s life sciences economy shows that diversification doesn’t always mean creating new industries, but unlocking more value from sectors that already exist.
It also challenges the idea that global downturns dictate local outcomes. Alberta is showing that with the right mix of research, infrastructure and collaboration, a sector can expand even against headwinds.
Final shots
- Alberta’s life sciences sector has grown sixfold in under a decade, signalling a shift other regions can learn from.
- Local capacity in research and manufacturing shows how diversification can be built on existing strengths.
- Sustaining momentum will depend on securing capital and creating the conditions for companies to grow in Canada.
is the official media partner of Life Sciences Week 2025. The event runs September 2226 in Edmonton and Calgary, with programming designed to showcase how Alberta’s ecosystem is connecting research to commercialization and unlocking new opportunities.
