Waterloo talent accelerates life sciences innovation and healthcare advancements
By: Christie Zeb (she/her)
From groundbreaking research to deployed healthcare technologies, the life sciences sector is experiencing remarkable growth.
The University of Waterloo is deeply engaged in transforming the life sciences sector in Waterloo Region. Innovation hubs, researchers and skilled students are advancing biotechnology, medical research and healthcare solutions.
During the recent Life Science Ontario’s 2024 Road Trip Around the Province stop at Waterloo, industry leaders explored the sector’s exciting potential. Waterloo’s Co-operative and Experiential Education unit co-hosted the event with Velocity, the University-founded incubator for startups.
Here are three of the ways Waterloo talent helps launch growth in the life science sector:
1. Building innovation communities
Students from Waterloo have influenced the launch of innovation communities, such as Velocity, an incubator that’s helping founders build companies that scale, transform industries, and create greater wellbeing and prosperity.
“The wave of health technology companies in Velocity started about 10 years ago when a group of students asked for lab space to work on biotech they were working to develop into diagnostics products. From that time, more than dozens of health technology startups have grown from Velocity. Now we are launching the Innovation Arena, a purpose-built facility helping founders turn prototypes into products—now supporting over 100 life sciences companies,” says Adrien Côté (he/him), executive director of Velocity.
Adrien Côté, executive director of Velocity
During their co-op work terms, students gain real-world experience. They also bring fresh insights from their experiences back to the University, sparking further innovation. “So much of the growth happening in this space comes from the University of Waterloo and co-op experiences. Students are getting that accelerated experience in their careers but also getting key industry insights, and then coming back to work with groups like Velocity and saying, ‘I see a problem here, let's act on it,’” says Côté.
2. Driving product innovation
Waterloo students and alumni are leading the charge in life sciences innovation. The sector has seen the launch of medtech and health tech products that advance healthcare and improve patient outcomes.
Rachel Bartholomew (she/her) (MBET ’14) is the CEO & founder of Hyivy Health, a medtech business she launched in 2019 after identifying outdated technologies in pelvic health treatment. Hyivy Health is creating a pelvic floor rehabilitation device designed for women to use in the comfort of their homes.
Similarly, Armen Bakirtzian (he/him) (BASc ’08), CEO and co-founder of Intellijoint Surgical, developed his company from an engineering project he worked on during his undergraduate studies at Waterloo. Intellijoint Surgical now offers a suite of products to assist orthopaedic surgeons and was named the #1 fastest-growing company by Deloitte’s 2020 Technology Fast 50 list.
Catharine Gerhard (she/her), market manager at Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation (WaterlooEDC), sees the strength that tech talent in Waterloo has when it comes to turning ideas into businesses. “What's exciting is this community's ability to turn new ideas and innovations into businesses. CBRE (Commericial Real Estate Services) Tech Talent Scorecard recently ranked us as the number one small tech talent hub in North America,” says Gerhard.
3. Supporting the growth of businesses
With the future-ready skills and fresh perspectives of co-op students, startups strapped for funds can launch and take their products to market. Bartholomew credits her co-op students for being integral to the development of Hyivy. Students worked on competitor analyses, user experience and design of the therapist portal and mobile app.
“Co-op students have been essential to the development of the product and all the way through,” says Bartholomew. Her team has consistently relied on these students, who often transition into full-time roles with the company after their co-op terms.
ATS Life Sciences Systems also hires engineering, math, statistics and computer science students to support its work in building solutions for life sciences companies.
We hire about 40 to 50 co-op students each term and have them across the organization including innovation, engineering and software.
Opportunities for emerging talent
As the sector grows, it’s becoming more attractive to emerging talent and opening opportunities for them to learn and innovate. For example, ATS has a six-month mechanical design training program for new hires and co-op students. The program helps students to deepen their knowledge and makes them more valuable in the industry. “Even though they are graduates and have experience in mechanical design, we train them specifically in life sciences and automation design,” says Anghel.
For young talent trying to find their feet in the industry, “don't be afraid to get into health tech and medtech. It’s a rewarding field, but it requires thoughtfulness and time to reach the point of impacting patients and people,” says Bartholomew.