The School of Biomedical Engineering is honoured to receive the 2024 Strategic Partner of the Year Award from Life Sciences BC. The award honours organizations with a commitment to promoting and supporting the life sciences sector in British Columbia.
“We believe that collaboration is the spark that ignites innovation. This award recognizes the collective efforts of our entire community—our students, faculty, partners, and the broader life sciences sector in British Columbia. It celebrates our shared vision and the incredible achievements made possible through our partnerships.” comments Danielle Walker, SBME’s Strategic Partnerships Manager.
SBME’s vision is to be a vibrant community hub—a place where bold ideas meet bright talent to drive the breakthroughs that will shape the future of healthcare. In 2021, SBME formed an Industry Advisory Committee (IAC), bringing together leaders from across the life sciences sector to help predict trends, identify skill gaps, and shape programs that respond directly to the evolving needs of healthcare.
“At the heart of our mission is a commitment to education and talent development. Working hand in hand with our IAC and partners, we’re not just attracting exceptional talent from around the globe—we’re preparing the next generation of innovators, researchers, and leaders. We understand that building a globally competitive sector requires a robust talent pipeline, and our partners—providing mentorship, internships, and career opportunities—are essential in shaping that next generation.” explains Danielle Walker.
The programming offered through SBME allows innovative partnerships to flourish from within the School. In 2019, SBME launched SBME Innovates, UBC’s only wet lab incubator, to meet a critical need: providing space and resources for early-stage ventures to grow. With the recent launch of the BioDevice Foundry and our new SBME building, we’re expanding that bridge to now create a community center where the life sciences ecosystem can thrive.
“Innovation isn’t a solo journey. It thrives on collaboration across disciplines, institutions, and industries. We’re expanding that bridge to now create a community center where the life sciences ecosystem can thrive—a place where researchers, entrepreneurs, and clinicians will work side by side to bring innovations to life.” explains Govind Kaigala.
This award is a responsibility and SBME is committed to being a catalyst to transforming BC into a vibrant hub for biotechnology.
