That’s it, here we go again! We will all be affected in one way or another…
And no, I am not talking about the second wave of COVID-19, but of the process of updating the Québec Life Sciences Strategy. This needed to be reviewed in the context of the pandemic. A lot has changed since 2016 when the working group aimed to define the content of the Strategy. Once again, the Ministry intends to involve life sciences stakeholders and I am counting on a strong mobilization to contribute to this asset for the sector, which is the envy of many jurisdictions outside Québec. As it was four years ago, Montréal InVivo and the members of its ecosystem will be very involved in the process which should make it possible to propose concrete actions for the development of our sector and the attainment of the ambitious objectives that we have collectively set ourselves.
The Strategy will also have to propose a framework to stimulate Québec’s economic recovery.
As we have seen, there are already several initiatives at different levels that target this objective. Having been involved in several of them, even though it is clear that there is a need to coordinate initiatives and different plans, I see that the life sciences sector is still a stakeholder as is perceived as a driving force behind the recovery. This bodes well. Life sciences are, for example, central to the initiative of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal (CCMM), “Relaunch MTL“. A metropolitan action plan will be proposed by the CCMM following the sector’s consultation work in which we participated last month. This will culminate in a strategic forum on the life sciences and health technologies sector scheduled to be held on November 16. Details of the forum program will be announced shortly and it will be a fine opportunity to showcase life sciences to an audience less familiar with our sector.
If you have suggestions for concrete actions to implement in either of these two initiatives, do not hesitate to contact me right away. I look forward to hearing from you.
Frank