A Pivotal Moment for Our Industry
It is with immense gratitude that I step into my role as head of Montréal InVivo. At the start of this new chapter, I find myself reflecting on the majority of my career spent in the life sciences industry—a journey rich in learning and growth. As I recall the many encounters I’ve had over the years with key players in our ecosystem, I can’t help but ponder the implications of our evolving geopolitical landscape. Today, we are living through a historic moment, a turning point for our sector, marked by complex geopolitical challenges and the onset of a trade war with our southern neighbor.
What will be the repercussions for our sector? As you read these lines, some of my colleagues in other sectoral clusters—such as Alu Québec, Aéro Montréal, CargoM, Propulsion Québec, and Mmode—are facing an especially turbulent period. A survey is currently circulating to better understand and assess the issues brought on by this uncertain business environment.
According to the latest census, our sector comprises 753 companies employing 39,340 people as of 2022¹. We rank 5th among the 21 life sciences and health technologies hubs in North America². But what will be the concrete impacts on our sector? Currently, 64% (valued at $1.2B) of Quebec’s pharmaceutical and medicinal product manufacturing exports in 2024 were destined for the United States. Additionally, 83% (valued at $614M) of Quebec’s exports of medical supplies and equipment in 2024 were also directed to the same country³. Strengthening our trade ties across Canada and with other strategic markets, particularly in Europe, while exploring new international opportunities, is therefore essential.
At the dawn of this crisis, it’s hard not to think back to the global COVID-19 crisis five years ago—a tragic and devastating time, but also a moment of collective awakening. The pandemic highlighted the urgent need to reinforce our autonomy, particularly in the production of medicines, to better prepare for future crises. It drove us to collaborate and innovate rapidly.
As you know, every crisis also presents opportunities. In light of budget cuts and research roadblocks under the Trump administration⁴, our region suddenly becomes even more attractive for certain types of foreign investment. I recently spoke with Carole Jabet, Vice President of Research, Scientific Directorate, Fonds de recherche du Québec, who emphasized that “the current uncertainty presents a unique opportunity to position Quebec as an attractive hub for life sciences companies seeking stability and highly skilled talent. With the excellence we have here, we are fully capable of meeting this demand.”
Some countries have already seized this opportunity. In France, Aix-Marseille University (AMU) has launched the “Safe Place For Science” program, dedicated to welcoming American scientists. According to its president, Éric Breton, the university plans to allocate 15 million euros to host around fifteen researchers⁵. For the future of our sector, it is crucial that we seize this moment of transformation. We must demonstrate resilience, innovation, and solidarity to face the challenges ahead. It is time to strengthen our local supply chains, solidify our international position, attract new investments, and stimulate research.
As a cluster, our mission remains the same: to serve our ecosystem. I invite you to engage with us to analyze the impacts of this unprecedented situation and, together, explore solutions to navigate this period with confidence and resilience. The entire MIV team is more committed than ever to fostering innovation, competitiveness, and resilience in our sector.
² https://www.montreal-invivo.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/miv-etude2-one-pager-1.pdf.
³ Source : Données sur le commerce en direct (site consulté le 13 mars 2025), ISDE