Canada’s biotech leaders see global opportunity — if we act quickly on AI and research
Russell Williams, chair of BioCanRx, is a former member of the Quebec National Assembly and veteran executive leader in the healthcare, life sciences and biotech sectors. / MEANS & WAYS PHOTO
Over the last decade, Canada has fallen behind in AI and quantum computing on a total and a per capita expenditure basis, and the country needs to get its act together to compete, according to Walter Robinson, a healthcare and life sciences leader.
“AI and quantum computing are the enabling economic infrastructure of the next 25-50 years and we still are not serious about this," Robinson told Means & Ways by email. "We have an opportunity on AI in healthcare if we can bring tech, government, payers, providers, major hospitals/institutions, researchers and most importantly patients together to build trust and act - adopt, test, implement and scale what works."
Robinson was one of the Canadian delegates at the BIO International Convention in Boston last week.
BIOTECanada President & CEO Wendy Zatylny opened the Canada Pavilion at the convention, which is focused on the future of the global life sciences and biotechnology sector.
Almost 500 Canadian companies were represented, positioning the country’s biotech sector as a global force in innovation, investment and health outcomes.
Defining what’s possible
“The biotech sector in Canada is defining the future of what’s possible, delivering cutting-edge science, building strong companies, and creating better health outcomes for both patients and the economy,” Zatylny said in a press release.
Canada sends one of the largest delegations to the annual event, which "speaks volumes about the energy, ambition, and expertise shaping the future of health innovation,” Zatylny said.
As with every industrial sector, the use of AI in healthcare was a top issue that took centre stage at BIO2025.
Veteran healthcare leader Russell Williams, BioCanRx chairman and former president of Innovative Medicines Canada, told Means & Ways that developments in the U.S. with regard to research and science present an opportunity for Canada to take a lead.
"Can we seize this opportunity to bring researchers to Canada, to support the researchers that we have better, to support the companies that we have that are investing in research?" he said. "Can we make sure that we can get better access to medicines? I think all of that is possible if we want to start to work on it. That keeps me up at night but it excites me at the same time."
He told Means & Ways that there seems to be a movement to bring the country together, put barriers aside and invest in the sectors that will help the country grow. “There is a real opportunity to advance research, to advance innovation, to advance life sciences."
After more than two decades in the health and life sciences and biotech sectors following 15 years as a member of the Quebec National Assembly, Williams has retired. He spoke to Means & Ways about his career, his accomplishments and the current state of Canada's healthcare system.
