May 14, 2026 - Energized by all things Web Summit

This week:

• Federal funding for AI projects including Variational AI
• LSBC at Web Summit
• FIFA and BC Business House announcement

Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, on stage at Web Summit

Federal Funding for AI Projects Including Variational AI

The federal government is investing $66 million through its AI Compute Access Fund to support 44 Canadian AI projects in scaling and commercializing, with funding aimed at improving access to critical compute power. Announced at Web Summit, eight BC-based projects will receive $16.8 million. The fund, which covers a portion of cloud computing costs, prioritizes projects with strong market potential and public benefit. Among the recipients is LSBC member Variational AI, who is also part of our Growth Catalyst Program. (CBC News).

Life Sciences at Web Summit Vancouver

An exciting week at Web Summit! The world’s largest tech event brought global attention to BC’s innovation ecosystem for the second year in Vancouver. We partnered to showcase the province’s life sciences sector, featuring targeted programming at the BC Pavilion, and networking events including the ever-popular Health Tech Unwind which we hosted this year at the Vancouver Art Gallery with our partners. The week created opportunities to build visibility, attract capital, and connect with international audiences.

FIFA and BC Business House Announcement

BC Business House is a business networking venue spotlighting BC and its key sectors during FIFA World Cup 2026. It will connect international investors and leaders with BC businesses during the World Cup. Life Sciences is one of those key sectors and we will be working with the province to host a life sciences sector showcase.  Read more.

Member Highlights 

NZ Technologies and Variational AI are receiving support as part of the province’s $5.3 million investment through the Integrated Marketplace Health Testbed. The announcement was made at the BC Pavilion at Web Summit and was followed by a panel discussion with the Honourable Rick Glumac, Minister of State for AI and New Technologies. The Testbed helps innovative companies validate solutions, reduce adoption risk, and reach global markets. Read more.

VoxCell BioInnovation and adMare BioInnovations have partnered to advance novel antibody therapies in a human-relevant vascularized tissue platform. Read more.

“Animal models often miss the biology that determines whether a human drug works,” said Dr. Karolina Valente, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer of VoxCell. “Our vascularized tissues bring perfusion, endothelial barriers, immune cells, and stroma into one human-relevant system. Working with adMare on a novel biologic is exactly the use case the FDA had in mind when it called for more predictive, human-relevant tools. The result is better decisions earlier, and fewer animals used along the way.”

Ecosystem Highlights

Destination Vancouver, the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, and Invest Vancouver have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen coordination on economic development and global engagement across the Metro Vancouver region. Read more.

The Government of Canada and partner organizations have announced nearly $4.8 million in for the Health System Impact Program, supporting researchers working with health organizations across Canada to drive evidence-informed improvements in health care. Read more.

Simon Fraser University and InBC are launching a new $20 million venture fund to help grow BC startups in sectors such as life sciences and deep tech, supporting innovation, job creation, and company growth across the province. Read more.

Kudos

Congratulations to Kathryn Hayashi on receiving the Research, The Sciences & Technology at the YWCA BC Women of Distinction Awards, presented by Scotiabank. Read more.

Congratulations to the recipients of Stem Cell Network’s “25 for 25” Silver Anniversary Awards, recognizing outstanding individuals and organizations who have helped shape Canada’s regenerative medicine community over the past 25 years. Read more.

People on the Move

Congratulations to Mounia Azzi, on her appointment as a Partner at AdBio Partners, where she will lead investment activities across Canada and Europe. Read more.  

Applications Open

Simon Fraser University’s Institute for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology is partnering up with Alzheimer Society of BC and Yukon and launching the Alzheimer Society of BC and Yukon Doctoral Neuroscience and Neurotechnology Award. This award reflects a shared commitment to advancing dementia research that is innovative, collaborative, and accessible to all.  Learn more.

The SFU Institute for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology launches a doctoral award in partnership with the Alzheimer Society of BC and Yukon.  The award will provide $40,000 annually for up to three years to support dementia-related research at Simon Fraser University. Open to incoming full-time PhD students from any faculty, this award supports research across biomedical, clinical, and social dimensions of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to advancing dementia research and supporting the next generation of researchers. Applications Open May 15. Learn more.

See our expanded list of current life sciences opportunities on our website.

Membership Spotlight

Redwood AI is a chemistry-focused artificial intelligence company developing from-scratch, bespoke AI models to solve complex chemistry synthesis challenges. Capitalizing on our team’s decades of experience covering software development, analytics, clinical development, and chemistry, we provide the life sciences and educational industries with the means to redefine their chemistry synthesis pipelines. Learn more.

Steve Vander Wal is founder and principal of Rocky Point Public Affairs, a consultancy specializing in British Columbia health policy, stakeholder engagement, and government relations. A former advisor to three B.C. Ministers of Health, Steve brings nearly 25 years of public and private sector experience helping organizations advance strategic priorities and partnerships. Learn more.

Diagnochip Technologies is a Canadian medical devices research company focused on the design and development of cancer screening and diagnosis testing. Learn more.

MyTrials.ai is an AI-powered clinical trial matching and patient recruitment platform connecting patients, patient advocacy groups, clinical sites, CROs, and sponsors. We operate as a two-sided marketplace, helping patients find and enroll in trials they're eligible for, while giving research teams faster, more qualified recruitment pipelines. Learn more.

The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) is a private, non-profit scientific organization that develops standards and science-based solutions that help increase the supply of quality medicines, dietary supplements and food ingredients. Used in 150+ countries, USP standards play a critical role in supporting the availability of quality medicines for billions of people worldwide. Learn more.

Avivo is on a mission to save lives by increasing the number of organ transplants and expanding the available blood supply. Our enzymes eliminate the blood type barrier in blood transfusion and organ transplantation by converting all blood types to Type O, the universal donor type.  As a dual-use technology, Avivo sits at the intersection of military trauma and donor organ utilization. Learn more.

Until next week!

LSBC Team

May 21- McCarthy Spotlight Speaking Series: Building BC’s Future in Lipid Nanoparticles and mRNA is a discussion about the evolution of BC’s globally recognized LNP cluster. Discover how decades of research, a deep talent pool, and a thriving biotech ecosystem have positioned the province as a leader in this rapidly advancing field.

June 4 - Summer Social LSBC’s most anticipated event! It’s a lively evening of relationship-building with different teams, past colleagues, business partners, and friends. It’s an excellent opportunity to meet people and expand networks.

UBC joins Eurolife Network, strengthening International collaboration on Biomedical research and training

The University of British Columbia has joined the EuroLife network, expanding global collaboration in biomedical research, training, and life sciences innovation… Read more.

argenx Announces U.S. FDA Approval Expanding VYVGART and VYVGART Hytrulo for Use in All Adult Patients Living with gMG

argenx has received U.S. FDA approval to expand the use of VYVGART and VYVGART Hytrulo for adults living with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), helping broaden treatment access for more patients… Read more.

Johnson & Johnson Reinforces its Leadership in Advancing Neuropsychiatry with New Portfolio and Pipeline Data at APA and ASCP

Johnson & Johnson shared new data from its neuropsychiatry portfolio and pipeline at upcoming APA and ASCP meetings, highlighting research focused on depression, schizophrenia, and other mental health conditions… Read more.

Alternative First-line Treatment Proves effective for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

A new study found that an alternative first-line treatment for persistent atrial fibrillation was more effective than standard care, showing improved patient outcomes and highlighting potential advances in heart rhythm treatment… Read more.

Johnson & Johnson Advances the Standard of Calcium Modification with Global Launch of Shockwave™ C2 Aero Coronary IVL Catheter

Johnson & Johnson has launched the Shockwave C2 Aero Coronary IVL Catheter, a new device designed to help treat blocked and calcified heart arteries more effectively and improve procedure flexibility for physicians… Read more.

Labcorp and Epic Expand Collaboration to Advance Diagnostic Integration across Hospitals and Health Systems

Labcorp and Epic are expanding their collaboration to make Labcorp’s full diagnostic test menu available through Epic’s Aura platform, helping hospitals and healthcare teams streamline lab ordering, reduce IT complexity, and improve access to advanced diagnostic testing… Read more.

VoxCell BioInnovation and adMare BioInnovations Partner to Advance Novel Antibody Therapies in a Human-Relevant Vascularized Tissue Platform

VoxCell BioInnovation and adMare BioInnovations are collaborating to support the development of new antibody therapies through advanced human-like tissue models designed to improve drug testing and accelerate innovation… Read more.

BeOne Medicines’ BEQALZI™ (sonrotoclax) Approved by U.S. FDA as First and Only BCL2 Inhibitor for R/R Mantle Cell Lymphoma

BeOne Medicines’ BEQALZI (sonrotoclax) has received U.S. FDA approval as the first BCL2 inhibitor for relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma, expanding treatment options for patients… Read more.

Cytiva’s ELEVECTA transient cell line receives advanced manufacturing technology (AMT) designation from the FDA

Cytiva’s ELEVECTA transient cell line has received FDA AMT designation, supporting faster and more efficient gene therapy manufacturing… Read more.

Health Canada approves KEYTRUDA® for the treatment of Adult Patients, in combination with Paclitaxel, with or without Bevacizumab, with Platinum-Resistant Epithelial Ovarian, Fallopian tube, or primary Peritoneal Carcinoma whose tumours express PD-L1 (CPS ≥1) as determined by a validated test, and who have received one or two prior systemic treatment regimens

Health Canada has approved KEYTRUDA in combination with chemotherapy for certain adults with platinum-resistant ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer, expanding treatment options for patients… Read more.

Head of RNA Chemistry

This role will oversee the design, synthesis, conjugation, purification, bioanalysis and SAR activities of RNA-based conjugates. They will develop, acquire, integrate and optimize techniques and technologies required to rapidly advance a portfolio of antibody-RNA conjugates… Learn more.

Technical Program Manager

This role requires being the lead of cross-functional execution across early-stage product development programs including pre-clinical, clinical and investigative studies… Learn more.

Pharmaceutical FDA GLP Drug Development - CEO

This position requires a CEO to lead a pharmaceutical company, raising funds, working with investors, and guiding a drug through FDA approval and clinical trials… Learn more.

R&D Scientist, Novel Ingredients

This position requires leading R&D as a scientist focused on developing novel ingredients, driving research, creating patentable innovations, and supporting the scale-up of seaweed-based solutions for food and biotech… Learn more.

Digital Marketing Specialist

This position is about building brand authority, managing social media communities, and optimizing web presence for both individual consumers (B2C) and healthcare/corporate partners (B2B)… Learn more.

Quality and Compliance Lead

This position requires ensuring company processes meet regulatory and quality standards, including managing audits and maintaining quality systems. It also involves supporting continuous improvement and working across teams to ensure compliance and operational excellence… Learn more.

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