Life Sciences

From pharmaceuticals to biotechnologies, Oakville is one of the top Canadian locations for companies and institutions that focus on human health.

In the heart of Canada's life sciences corridor

Home to one of the largest community hospitals in Ontario, and surrounded by some of the country's leading research hospitals, universities and innovation centres, our community is a healthy investment for your life sciences business.

Oakville is at the centre of a life sciences corridor stretching 80 kilometres, from Hamilton to Toronto.

Innovative facilities within this corridor include prestigious academic and research institutions such as McMaster University, University of Toronto, MaRS Discovery District and many of Canada's foremost research and teaching hospitals.

Oakville is within an hour of nine accredited universities as well as seven technology and applied arts colleges, many of which offer advanced courses and degrees in the health sciences field.

Life sciences prosper in Oakville

When you locate in Oakville, you’ll be part of a dynamic cluster of businesses supporting innovation and growth. Its location within the Greater Toronto Area makes Oakville part of an ethnically diverse population, essential to clinical trials research. With supporting agencies, educational institutions and an active and involved economic development department, new life sciences businesses in Oakville have a support network that promotes success.

Government investment opportunities

In Canada, the life sciences industry receives a high level of government support and focus. Investments in research and development are also eligible for special tax credits. Both the provincial and the federal governments are allotting millions of dollars for health research funding.

The National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) is available Canada-wide, and the Ontario Centre for Innovation's Life Sciences Innovation Fund is available to Ontario or Canadian incorporated life science and healthcare technology companies headquartered in Ontario.

Visit our Find Funding page to learn more.

Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital

A catalyst for health sciences and research

Opened in December 2015, the new Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital is a 1.6 million square foot state-of-the-art facility that serves residents in Oakville and Halton Region.

The hospital, with its cancer care clinic and a teaching partnership with McMaster University, acts as a catalyst for the development of a new life sciences and technology district immediately adjacent to the new hospital.

Facts and figures

Life sciences companies

Number of establishments with one or more employees in Life Sciences industries

Industry NAICS Code and Description	# of establishments
3254 - Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing	4
3391 - Medical equipment and supplies manufacturing	15
4145 - Pharmaceuticals, toiletries, cosmetics and sundries merchant wholesalers	24
4461 - Health and personal care stores	230
5417 - Scientific research and development services	25
6214 - Out-patient care centres	26
6215 - Medical and diagnostic laboratories	37
6216 - Home health care services	17
6219 - Other ambulatory health care services	11
6221 - General medical and surgical hospitals	1
6231 - Nursing care facilities	8
6232 - Residential developmental handicap, mental health and substance abuse facilities	23
6233 - Community care facilities for the elderly	16
6239 - Other residential care facilities	8
Total	445

Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Business Counts, December 2023.

Life Sciences

In the heart of Canada's life sciences corridor

Life sciences prosper in Oakville

Government investment opportunities

Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital

A catalyst for health sciences and research

Facts and figures

11,050

445

16

Key employers

Oakville's major sub-sectors

Life sciences companies

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