Life sciences is a strategic sector for Québec. It is central to the lives of Quebecers, generating both significant economic impacts and societal benefits. The sector employs close to 40,000 people, whose work injects nearly $6.5 billion into Québec’s economy each year. Its products and technologies are used every day, notably across the healthcare network to treat patients.
The Government of Québec is therefore renewing the Québec Life Sciences Strategy for 2025–2028, supported by nearly $271.5 million in financial measures.
Objectives
The Strategy is structured around four main objectives that will guide government action over the next three years.
Support the growth and long-term viability of Québec-based companies
The government intends to:
Strengthen the financing chain to support companies as they grow into anchor firms and encourage Québec companies to remain in the province
Foster the emergence of new entrepreneurs and support them as they develop into senior leaders
Strengthening the financing chain
A diverse range of financing sources must be mobilized at the right time to support company growth. Venture capital activity in Québec’s life sciences and health technologies sectors has expanded considerably over the past decade. However, additional efforts are required to meet entrepreneurs’ capital needs.
To encourage private investment and improve access to capital across the financing chain, the government will implement the following measures:
creation of the Fonds Impulsion;
Support for strategic investment initiatives;
Investissement Québec (IQ) direct investments;
Fostering the emergence of new entrepreneurs and supporting them in developing into senior leaders
Québec benefits from a strong ecosystem of organizations that specialize in supporting high-potential innovative startups. These organizations provide high-quality incubation and acceleration services and offer access to an extensive network of advisors, mentors, investors, and experts who can assist companies with research, intellectual property, commercialization, and regulatory processes.
This ecosystem will be leveraged to promote:
Access to specialized advisory services and support
Advanced training and mentorship
Stimulate industrial innovation by leveraging Québec expertise
The U.S. government is overhauling its research financing programs and withdrawing support from a number of emerging fields with direct implications for public health. Québec must set itself apart by supporting innovation and building strong public-private collaboration. These shifts create opportunities for Québec to consolidate its leadership in emerging subsectors.
Québec must also continue efforts to encourage clinical studies, which give residents access to innovative therapies.
Renewing the Québec Life Sciences Strategy confirms the government’s ongoing investment in innovation, specifically through public-private partnerships. Investments will support the following initiatives:
Support for Québec businesses investing in emerging sectors;
Support will be provided for collaborative innovation projects;
Continuation of activities to promote excellence in clinical research within Québec healthcare institutions;
Continued efforts to coordinate access to public expertise;
Support to maintain the expertise necessary for accessing health information that fuels both public and private R&D.
Strengthen local production
Global trade disruptions and the uncertainty they create are prompting companies to reassess production, supply chain, and investment strategies. For Québec, the challenge is to preserve industrial capacities and attract investment projects that will reinforce supply chains and ensure the availability of products and equipment—both in everyday operations and during crises—while promoting sustainable practices.
To achieve this, the government will:
Support investment projects to establish new production capacities in Québec or increase the production and productivity of existing companies
Work with the federal government to secure national supply chains for critical and strategic health products
Facilitate access to local, national, and international markets
Local market access
The healthcare network is often the first market for Québec life sciences companies. Entering this market accelerates growth and represents a first step toward export opportunities.
Québec must therefore support the sustainability of its local market and the competitiveness of local companies using all available tools, including public procurement, while remaining financially responsible.
To this end, MEIE will continue working closely with MSSS through measures such as:
A forum for strategic dialogue connecting industry with government representatives to address innovative drug access and local production challenges, including generics.
Québec will join other provinces under the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) for a new negotiation process aimed at reducing negotiation timelines by four to six months for certain cancer medications.
Optimizing provincial access to innovative medicines to improve care and encourage pharmaceutical investment in Québec. As announced on October 3, 2025, MSSS will accelerate new drug listings in 2026, increasing updates from 9 to 12 per year for both the general drug insurance plan and healthcare institution drug lists.
Evaluation by MSSS of the entire process for listing medications in Québec in order to analyze access issues and identify additional improvements that could help shorten listing delays.
Increasing the number of local pharmaceutical companies integrated into the supply chains of the health and social services network.
Integrating Québec-made innovative medical technologies through value-based procurement and system-wide cultural change.
Continuing efforts by Comité stratégique d’innovation (CSI) and Réseau des répondants en innovation (RRI) to scale Québec medical technology innovations essential for a more human, efficient, and high-performing healthcare system.
National and international market access
The government will continue to promote Québec’s life sciences sector internationally in order to attract new private investment and partnerships. It will also support Québec companies in expanding their exports and diversifying their markets through:
International promotion and communication initiatives
Participation in international events
Adapting the Strategy to uncertainty
The current context is marked by uncertainty, including threats of targeted tariffs on the life sciences industry and other geopolitical, demographic, and climate-related challenges. For this reason, the Strategy must be continually adapted. To this end, a committee of sector leaders and industry associations will review the Strategy every six months.