Canada’s Minister of Industry announced C$67 million for five projects through the Life Sciences Fund on September 18. The government linked the funding to economic growth, health resilience and dual-use biotechnology capacity that can serve civilian and security applications.

Examples include up to C$21.9 million toward Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation’s C$23.5-million Alberta initiative and up to C$10.9 million toward Avivo Biomedical’s C$33.9-million British Columbia project. Avivo’s technology aims to convert different blood types into Type O. The fund is delivered through Health Emergency Readiness Canada and includes support under the Defence Industrial Strategy, which seeks to strengthen domestic supply chains and industrial capabilities.