Québec is home to one of the most dynamic life-sciences and health technology ecosystems in North America.
The industry benefits from strong public support through the 2025–2028 Québec Life Sciences Strategy, which is investing more than $270 million to spur innovation and attract international private investment.
Top areas of interest include precision medicine, cell and gene therapies, rare diseases, vaccines, RNA technologies and AI applications in healthcare.
A total of 750 companies are operating in this sector in Québec.
40,000 jobs in areas from basic research to commercialization.
More than 4,000 college students enrolled in industry-related technical programs.
Québec boasts one of North America’s largest networks of contract research organizations, with more than 80 companies providing services ranging from drug development to preclinical research to clinical trials.
Companies also benefit from an environment that supports clinical research, backed by an extensive network of university hospitals and research centres.
Health Canada reviews clinical trial applications in roughly 30 days, making it possible to launch studies rapidly. With its universal healthcare system and diverse, aging population, Québec facilitates access to committed patients for trials related to vaccines, chronic diseases and infectious diseases.
Québec is home to leading research institutions, including the CHUM, the McGill University Health Centre, the CHU de Québec-Université Laval, the CHUS and the CHU Sainte-Justine.
The Québec model fosters close collaboration between businesses, research institutions and the healthcare network. Partnerships involving organizations such as CQDM, Roche, GSK and several hospitals demonstrate the strength of this ecosystem.
This collaborative environment gives businesses access to cutting-edge scientific expertise, advanced clinical infrastructure and patient populations, helping to accelerate innovation.
Québec has earned a reputation as a global leader in AI healthcare applications.
In Montreal, Mila—the Québec Artificial Intelligence Institute, the world’s largest community of deep-learning academics—collaborates with numerous industry partners.
Technologies developed in Québec support a wide range of clinical applications, including medical imaging, diagnostic assistance, genomic data analysis and the development of new treatments.
Québec possesses a highly skilled workforce produced by an internationally recognized network of universities that train thousands of researchers and specialists every year.
Companies also benefit from a competitive business environment, R&D tax incentives and access to clean, renewable hydropower.
This environment supports responsible innovation and reinforces Québec’s reputation as a trusted hub for scientific and technological advancement.
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