First Meeting of Health and Biosciences Economic Strategy Table identifies Canada with potential to be global economic powerhouse

First Meeting of Health and Biosciences Economic Strategy Table identifies Canada with potential to be global economic powerhouse

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 10, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Karimah Es Sabar, CEO and Partner, Quark Venture, chaired the first Health and Biosciences Economic Strategy Table meeting in Vancouver, on November 9, 2017.  This sector is critical to drive the growth of a thriving Canadian health and biosciences industry that attracts investment, talent and provides quality jobs.  

The Table is tasked by the Government of Canada with an unique opportunity to identify long-term ambitious growth targets, industry-wide challenges and bottlenecks to innovation, and actionable plans to maximize the sector's potential in the Canadian economy.  Health and Biosciences Table members comprising CEOs and leaders who are experts in their respective fields, discussed innovative procurement and adoption, digitization, access to capital and firm growth, and talent and skills as priority areas of focus.

The Health and Biosciences Economic Strategy Table will be meeting and discussing these issues from now until a final report is completed in summer of 2018.  

?The Economic Strategy Table made excellent progress on identifying key themes and barriers to growth. We also surfaced best opportunities to commercialize breakthrough health solutions and foster growth of Canadian health tech companies, business opportunities and new innovation economy jobs?, said Karimah Es Sabar.  ?The table members look forward to developing an actionable strategy to guide federal efforts to turn Canadian innovation and economic strengths into global advantages.?

It is important for the Health Biosciences Table to be informed by a wide range of views and perspectives from experts, stakeholders and Canadians. All interested stakeholders are welcomed to share their thoughts (maximum four pages) via the Economic Strategy website: www.ic.gc.ca/econstrategy, prior to March 31, 2018.

In Budget 2017, the Government of Canada announced a new vision for Canada's economy as a global leader in innovation, anchored by the Innovation and Skills Plan. In this plan, the creation of the six Economic Strategy Tables will support innovation in advanced manufacturing, agri-food, clean technology, digital industries, health/bio-sciences and clean resources.

The following are members of the Health and Biosciences Economic Strategy Table:

Chair:
Karimah Es Sabar, Quark Venture Inc.

Members:
Armen Bakirtzian, Intellijoint Surgical Inc.
Norma K. Biln, Augurex Life Sciences Corp.
Josh Blair, Telus Health
Jennifer Chan (Interim), Merck Canada Inc.
Ed Dybka, AstraZeneca Canada Inc.
Neil Fraser, Medtronic Canada
Chris Gardner, SequenceBio
Niels Erik Hansen, ARxIUM
Huda Idrees, Dot Health
Martin LeBlanc, Caprion Biosciences Inc.
Rick Makos, PHEMI Systems
Andrea Palmer, Awake Labs
Cameron Piron, Synaptive Medical
Oliver Technow, BioVectra 
Peter W. Vaughan, Canada Health Infoway

Federal Representatives:
Simon Kennedy, Health Canada
David McGovern, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

About Quark Venture
Quark Venture is focused on equity financing of innovative biotechnology and health sciences companies with breakthrough technology platforms and projects. The organization's approach is to establish long-term relationships with target companies, with a view to enable and strengthen management to realize the full potential and value of the technology. This approach has been previously successfully demonstrated in the energy and high-tech sectors where Quark Venture partners have invested. Quark Venture's management is supported by a scientific and commercial advisory board. For more information on Quark Venture visit quarkventure.com

For more information, contact:
Kaley Wilson ? Quark Venture
Director, Business Development
T :604-262-8818
E: [email protected]