JULY 2023 | HEALTHINSIGHT.CA
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A SPECIAL INTEREST SECTION BY MEDIAPLANET
Advancing Canada’s Life Sciences Industry
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Why Advancing IDEA Is Good for Canada’s Life Sciences Sector To enhance Canada's life sciences sector, embedding inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) is crucial for fostering innovation and attracting talent. Life Sciences Ontario
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anada currently ranks among the top hubs in the world for health and biosciences. Our world-class universities and research hospitals have led to breakthrough discoveries and trained a highly educated workforce. Yet Canada is also experiencing a talent gap in the life sciences sector, particularly at the executive and managerial levels, and equity-deserving groups are underrepresented. To transform Canada’s life sciences sector into a truly innovative and globally competitive hub, we must take steps to build a more inclusive and diverse life sciences sector. A new report, “Status of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) in Canada’s Life Sciences Sector,” conducted by Shift Health and Life Sciences Ontario (LSO) and supported by adMare BioInnovations and Pfizer, identifies opportunities for Canadian life sciences organizations to embed inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) initiatives into workplace practices and culture. Recommendations from the report include using inclusive language in job postings, offering mentorship programs for employees,
requiring IDEA training for all employees, and holding leaders accountable by embedding IDEA into organizational strategies.
Embedding IDEA initiatives Life sciences companies in Canada are taking steps to embed IDEA into organizational practices and culture. LSO, in partnership with Shift Health, announced the “Building an Inclusive Life Sciences Future (BILSF)” initiative in June 2021, a series of community-driven engagements and workshops aimed at mobilizing the life sciences community around a powerful action plan for IDEA. Larger companies can also support small and medium-sized enterprises — who may lack time and resources — in implementing IDEA initiatives. By advancing IDEA, Canadian life sciences organizations can create a sense of community and belonging in the workplace. In doing so, life sciences organizations will be able to attract more talent and improve organizational performance, leading to greater innovation and an overall more globally competitive sector.
To learn more, visit lifesciences ontario.ca.
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