Life Sciences

The life sciences sector, relatively new in the economy, is experiencing substantial growth and the Saskatoon region is reaping the benefits. With high quality labour available and revenues growing, the life sciences sector is one of the strongest in the region. It includes companies in the bioprocessing, biotechnology, health sciences, natural health products (nutraceuticals) and pharmaceuticals industries. Companies in this sector are involved in a variety of research, development and manufacturing activities that use biological processes and techniques.

Saskatoon is home to the University of Saskatchewan, 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.

For a list of companies in the life sciences industry in Saskatoon, visit the Business Directory or the Ag-West Bio Directory of Saskatchewan's Bio-Economy Solutions.

Industry Successes

• University research revenue has nearly tripled in the past decade. In 2005-06, University of Saskatchewan research revenue was $106.9 million.
• The University of Saskatchewan has become a member of the “$100 Million Club,” securing more than $100 million in research funding.
• Development, marketing and distribution of the world's first commercial veterinary vaccines using genetic engineering.
• Based upon international trends and an annual growth rate of 15 per cent, annual sales by the Saskatchewan nutraceutical, functional food and dermaceutical industry could be as high as $214 million by 2010.

IDP Survey Results

Each year, SREDA conducts an industry development program survey. The survey is intended to maintain product information on industrial companies operating within the Saskatoon region and assess specific industry sectors' prospects for growth and labour market needs.

Seventeen life sciences companies participated in the survey, representing a 47 per cent response rate.

Labour

Until recently, the skilled labour supply has been relatively stable for the life sciences sector. It is only over the past year that there has been a marked decline in availability of skilled labour. Alternatively, industry managers responded that unskilled labour supply availability is steadily increasing.

All of the respondents in the survey ranked the quality of available labour high. One hundred percent of managers replied that the labour-management relations, employee work ethic and employee skill level were either excellent or good.

As with all sectors of the Saskatoon region's economy, labour shortages are occurring in the life sciences industry. Respondents indicated challenges finding employees to fill positions such as:

• Biotech Researcher
• Health Research Personnel
• Immunologist
• Project Managers
• Seed Analysts

Sales and Growth

Life sciences companies in the Saskatoon region have enjoyed relatively steady or increased sales over the last five years. This robust sector of the economy continues to boast high-quality prospects of growth, as 79 per cent of respondents indicated.

Given impressive sales and growth statistics, expansion plans are expected. Life sciences companies will lead all sectors in growth, with plant expansions potentially creating a projected 12 per cent increase in full-time employment for this sector.