BIOTECanada announces winners of the 2017 Gold Leaf Awards, which recognize biotechnology excellence. Launched in 2001, the Gold Leaf awards are given annually to recognize both companies and individuals who have made significant contributions to the biotech industry in Canada. The Awards’ importance to the recipients and the industry more broadly has grown significantly over the years.

“These remarkable individuals and companies serve to demonstrate the value of innovation, leadership and how biotechnology is delivering solutions to the many pressing environmental, health and economic challenges society is grappling with as a result of global population growth. The various clusters of excellence throughout Canada where biotechnology is thriving showcase the very best we have on offer,” commented Andrew Casey, President and CEO of BIOTECanada. “The biotech ecosystem is building globally competitive Canadian companies. Biotechnology is becoming more central to supporting the economic and environmental transformation of Canada’s traditional economic cornerstone and job intensive industries, namely: forestry; energy; mining; agriculture; aerospace; manufacturing and resource management. Biotechnology innovation will support these sectors as they transform and compete in the emerging global bio-economy.”

• Company of the Year: enGene
• Emerging company of the Year (Health): Turnstone Biologics
• Emerging company of the Year (Agriculture/ Industrial): CO2 Solutions
• Industry Catalyst: Dr. Ilse Treurnicht
• Ecosystem Builder: Bioenterprise

BIOTECanada appreciates the small group of industry leaders, from throughout the industry ecosystem, who served on the Advisory Panel for the Awards. The panel was instrumental in updating competition categories, developing selection criteria and nominating credentials. The Gold Leaf Awards will be presented during a variety of industry events this fall.

BIOTECanada is the national industry association with more than 200 members located nationwide, reflecting the diverse nature of Canada’s health, industrial and agricultural biotechnology sectors. In addition to providing significant health benefits for Canadians, the biotechnology industry has quickly become an essential part of the transformation of many traditional cornerstones of the Canadian economy including manufacturing, automotive, energy, aerospace and forestry industries.