Ottawa announces $67 million for dual-use life-sciences projects

The federal government has announced $67 million through the Life Sciences Fund for manufacturing, research and health-security projects across Canada.

The largest contribution is up to $21.9 million for Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation in Alberta to develop a domestic supply initiative for broad-spectrum antibiotics and other antimicrobial drugs.

Projects across five provinces

Other announced contributions include up to $10.9 million for Avivo Biomedical in British Columbia, $6 million for Northern RNA in Alberta, $12.5 million for Qidni Labs in Ontario and $2.8 million for STEMCELL Technologies in British Columbia.

The package also provides $1.55 million over three years to each of five pan-Canadian research hubs, plus grants for work on drug-shortage monitoring, biobank data, vaccine platforms and adenovirus manufacturing.

The government describes the projects as “dual use” because they are intended to serve civilian health needs while also supporting national security or defence readiness. The funding amounts are contributions to specific projects, not general medical advice or approval of a treatment.

Source: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, news release, September 18, 2026.

Illustrative laboratory photo by Julia Koblitz via Unsplash; cropped/resized. It does not depict a funded project.