Québec is a strategic centre for private research in the health sector. By making R&D, tax breaks, labour force training, competitive operational costs and a vision for a knowledge-based economy its priorities, the province has made a name for itself on the world stage. By targeting certain key sectors and creating a synergy between all of the means that are set out, Québec has developed key niches. Along with aerospace and information technologies, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries constitute one of Québec’s three main economic hubs.

Québec is one of the few places in the world in which pharmaceutical companies can carry out all of the development stages for a new drug, from fundamental and clinical research to manufacturing and marketing.

-Québec boasts 420 life sciences companies.

-The world’s ten largest pharmaceutical companies carry out business in Québec.

-Some twenty multinational drug companies have chosen Montréal for their Canadian headquarters.

-Montréal is ranked sixth in America for pharmaceutical sector employment density and eighth with regards to the total number of positions.

-Businesses can count on an exceptional skills pool of over 32 000 people and a public health research network that mobilizes over 10 500 scientists.

Source: Investissement Québec Web site, October 2010