Podcast: Rory Francis Talks About How Bioscience Will Become A Billion-Dollar Sector In P.E.I.
What started 15 years ago as an idea to build a new industry around a few key assets has grown into an impressive biosciences cluster with 60 firms, 2,200 employees, and more than $300-million worth of exports in 2020.
The Prince Edward Island BioAlliance has been at the centre of the cluster’s development. Its CEO, Rory Francis, joins Don Mills and David Campbell on the latest episode of Huddle “Insights” to talk about its successes and future potential.
“The strategic plan to 2025 would say $500-million and 3,000 employees in the sector,” says Francis. “We’re doubling about every five years so by 2030 I would say it’ll be $1-billion.”
Francis also provides insight into how the model might be replicated with other nascent cluster development efforts across Atlantic Canada.
This is the first in a series of conversations around the development of economic clusters in the Atlantic region.
You can listen to Mills’ and Campbell’s conversation with Francis in the player above or on your favourite podcast platform. Search for “Huddle Insights” on platforms like Apple and Spotify, and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there or here.
The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, to promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and to encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.
“Insights” is part of a Huddle podcast network that also features Home Office, hosted by Huddle editor Mark Leger.