Announcement marks focus on building Canada's life sciences sector into global leader, bolstering industrial capacity, economic growth and high-quality jobs in Canada
Today, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, joined by the Honourable Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister Responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada, Wade Grant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and the Honourable Adrian Dix, British Columbia Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth, announced a Strategic Response Fund investment totalling nearly $100 million in British Columbia-based life sciences companies Kardium Inc. and Evonik Canada Inc. At a time of economic uncertainty as tariffs reshape the global trade landscape, the Government of Canada is investing in our capacity to produce, innovate and manufacture here at home.
This investment includes a contribution of up to $31.25 million toward Kardium's $125 million project to create a world-class manufacturing facility for advanced medical devices in Burnaby, British Columbia. Kardium has developed the Globe® Pulsed Field System, a novel medical device designed for the treatment of atrial fibrillation, the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia. The device, an integrated mapping and ablation solution, received regulatory approval from Health Canada in July 2026 and from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in September 2025. The project will enable Kardium to expand its cleanroom capacity from 500 units a year to 30,000 to meet growing market demand, create and maintain a total of 1,000 highly skilled jobs in British Columbia, and retain its intellectual property in Canada.
The investment also includes a contribution of up to $68 million toward Evonik's over $150 million project to expand its presence in British Columbia, which includes building and operating a Nucleic Acid Competence Centre. This project will build on British Columbia's strong history in lipid-based drug delivery systems dating back to the 1990s. The new facility will enable Evonik to increase its product development and manufacturing capacity for the next generation of mRNA vaccines and therapies, bringing more products from concept to the clinic. The expansion project will create and maintain 260 jobs and is expected to attract additional global investment in Canada's life sciences industry, while further bolstering British Columbia's international reputation as a hub for cutting-edge life sciences.
Canada is well positioned to lead the next generation of innovation, and the Government of Canada is making strategic investments that build on our world-class strengths in science, research and commercialization. Investing in next-generation biomedical technologies will help secure Canada's place in emerging fields of biotechnology and medical research while creating high-value jobs and bringing costs down for Canadians. By growing a strong domestic life sciences sector, Canada is building the industrial capacity, economic security and innovation advantage needed to compete in a more uncertain world.
