Canadian Medical Isotope Ecosystem Directory

New report shines spotlight on Canadian medical isotope excellence

Medical isotope ecosystem directory details tremendous capabilities of Canada’s isotope industry.  

(TORONTO and PICKERING– April 19, 2021) – Today, the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries (OCNI) and the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council (CNIC) released the Canadian Medical Isotope Ecosystem Directory. The directory demonstrates the capabilities of the Canadian isotope sector companies and their leading international expertise as well as highlights the potential export growth that the sector is primed to take advantage of.

The Canadian nuclear industry includes 19 operating CANDU reactors, a world-leading nuclear research laboratory, an ecosystem of universities, colleges, and other knowledge institutions, a highly skilled workforce, a world-class nuclear regulator, as well as more than 220 highly qualified Canadian suppliers of products and services to the nuclear industry in Canada and offshore.

The directory was commissioned in December by OCNI and CNIC with the support of Global Affairs Canada. The report development was undertaken by the team of Bucephalus Consulting, MZConsulting, and Strategic Policy Economics.

The directory demonstrates

  1. There is vast potential with the Canadian isotope sector to export its expertise and grow Canadian prominence internationally;
  2. Canadian isotope ecosystem infrastructure enables the production of a comprehensive range of isotopes and the flexibility to produce others that may be needed in the future;
  3. Increased awareness and support for the sector will lead to positive outcomes for patients worldwide.

“The Canadian ecosystem includes nearly the complete supply chain for the production, processing, and delivery of medical isotopes and Canadian researchers, who continue to develop innovative targeting molecules, radiolabeling strategies, and medical isotope production methodologies. This directory captures all that expertise and shows that Canadian companies are ready, willing, and able to grow and expand their offerings internationally to improve patient outcomes around the world,” said Ron Oberth, President, and CEO of OCNI.

“By leveraging existing Canadian nuclear infrastructure, Canada can unlock critical partnerships to grow the sector and provide the most impactful emerging medical isotopes. This will attract international research dollars to Canada, as investors and private sector companies choose to take advantage of access to reliable and stable supplies of medical isotopes,” said James Scongack, Chair of the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council.

“As this directory clearly shows, Canada hosts all manufacturing capabilities for isotopes, expert researchers, and scientists and host many developers of medical isotope equipment within its borders. In Canada, this sector has a long tradition in supply chain collaboration and is renowned worldwide for developing new applications. This directory demonstrates all that and will be a useful tool in promoting this crucial sector to the rest of the world and on future trade missions,” added Scongack.

The directory will be used to support an isotope trade mission that OCNI and CNIC will lead in late 2021 or early 2022 once Covid travel restrictions are lifted. The report will also further enhance the current study underway by the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council, Nuclear Innovation Institute, and McMaster on current supply chain challenges in the Canadian isotope sector.

Read the full report here

About the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council

The Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council (CNIC) is an independent organization consisting of representatives from various levels within the Canadian health sector, nuclear industry and research bodies, convened specifically to advocate for our country’s role in the production of the world’s isotope supply.

For more information please contact:

Andrew Thiele

Director

Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council

226.930.1869

Andrew.thiele@brucepower.com

About the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries

Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries (OCNI) is an association of more than 220 leading Canadian suppliers to the nuclear industry in Canada and the international marketplace. OCNI member companies employ more than 15,000 highly skilled and specialized people in Canada who manufacture major equipment and components and provide engineering services and support for CANDU and SMR technology for nuclear power plants in Canada and around the world. OCNI companies also work on medical and other safe applications of nuclear technology.

For more information please contact:

Ron Oberth

President and CEO

905.839.0073

ron.oberth@ocni.ca