Posted on June 12: Biotech cluster workable; But cities must create strategy, fast

The Golden Horseshoe has a chance to share in the vast wealth and promise of biotechnology innovation but it needs to make the right moves — quickly.

A first of its kind BioSummit 2003 conference yesterday at McMaster University examined the area's bioscience strengths and speakers discussed the need for collaboration and better strategies to commercialize on research.

“This is a once-in-a-decade, and maybe once in 20 years, opportunity,” said Ken Knox, chair of the not-for-profit Innovation Institute of Ontario. “Don't take today too lightly … There has been billions of taxpayers' money invested in what you have an opportunity to build on.”

Biotechnology is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years as innumerable innovations evolve out of genetic and molecular biology research.

The Ontario government wants to make the province one of the top three biotech clusters in North America. Many believe Hamilton, as part of a joint effort with Halton and Niagara, can be a player in that strategy by building on the medical and scientific research already taking place here.

But both Ontario and the Golden Horseshoe have a long way to go. Ontario is far behind the two leaders, California and Massachusetts.

Biotech consultant Borys Chabursky said California has 683 biotech firms, and Massachusetts has 259. That compares with Ontario's 111 firms.

In 1999, California had $13.35 billion in revenue from biotech companies compared to Massachusetts' $3.3 billion. Ontario had only $640 million.

And as for any desire for Hamilton to do it alone, Knox noted: “You're just not big enough … you have to build a collaboration. Collaborations among institutions of research and collaborations among institutions and regions about commercialization.”

Hamilton has already joined forces with Halton and the Niagara region. A group called the Golden Horseshoe Biosciences Network has been formed.

But yesterday, the conference heard the three municipalities may still not be big enough.

Some argued the cluster should extend into upstate New York to create a binational entity, and perhaps include Toronto.

Dr. Bruce Holm, senior vice-provost from the University of Buffalo, said more than $1.5 billion in research per year is spent at universities in the Golden Horseshoe, upstate New York and Toronto.

That kind of money, he said, would make the binational cluster a continental player.

Holm said it would create all kinds of possibilities for sharing resources and expertise. And it would encourage more biotech companies to move into the area.

(The Hamilton Spectator, June 12, 2003)