Overview

The Saskatoon Region is home to 30% of Canada’s Ag-Biotech industry.  With a reputation for introducing "world firsts" into the market, the Saskatoon Region is establishing itself as Canada's centre for plant and animal genome science. Among its leading-edge achievements, the Saskatoon cluster produced the world's first genetically modified commercial canola variety and first genetically engineered animal vaccine.

Saskatoon has built a strong foundation for the future bio-based economy. Anchored by Innovation Place Research Park, a one million square foot combined office, lab and greenhouse space housing over 120 tenants, the Saskatoon Region’s biotechnology cluster benefits from this location’s high density of companies, researchers and facilities that brings people and ideas together in one place. 

Saskatoon is also home to the only synchrotron in Canada, the Canadian Light Source. It is one of the most advanced synchrotron research facilities in the world, and is used to analyze a host of physical, chemical, geological and biological processes on a molecular level. Information obtained by researchers can be used to develop ways to help reduce greenhouse gases and clean up mining wastes, examine the structure of surfaces to develop more effective paints and motor oils, design new drugs, develop new materials for products ranging from solar panels to safer medical implants and build more powerful computer chips.

Innovation Place, the Canadian Light Source, and many biotechnology focused research organizations are located on the University of Saskatchewan campus in Saskatoon. The U of S is also the only Canadian university to house six life science colleges. These include agriculture, dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy and nutrition, and veterinary medicine, as well as a major teaching hospital on the same campus.