MONTREAL, Nov. 9, 2026 /CNW/ -- Bioscience Association Manitoba (BAM), representing Manitoba's bioscience industry, BIOQuébec, representing Québec's life sciences and health technologies industry, and BioWin, the health innovation cluster of Wallonia, Belgium, are pleased to announce the signing of a trilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at strengthening ties between Canadian and Belgian life sciences ecosystems and creating new opportunities for their member companies.

The agreement was announced during BIO-Europe 2026 in Cologne, Germany, one of the leading international partnering conferences for the life sciences industry, which brought together significant Canadian and Belgian delegations. Their strong presence reflects the vitality of transatlantic relations and the growing interest in closer cooperation.

Through this new agreement, the three organizations aim to connect the complementary strengths of Québec, Manitoba and Wallonia, facilitating business development, knowledge exchange and international partnerships.

Building Bridges Between Canada and Europe

The MOU establishes a framework for cooperation designed to deliver tangible benefits to member companies. The organizations will work together to facilitate business introductions, support incoming and outgoing trade delegations, and encourage participation in conferences, networking events and other joint initiatives.

Furthermore, members will benefit from greater access to market insights and business opportunities across the three ecosystems, as well as preferential rates for participating in partner events.

The three organizations also intend to pursue at least one joint activity annually, further strengthening ties between their respective life sciences ecosystems.

"Manitoba life sciences is strong in production, exporting and discoveries which going back decades. Manitoba is keen to expand production, commercialize discoveries and generate world class research. We are proud of our existing partnership with BioQuebec and this new expansion to include BioWin in Belgium. The three organization position each region for more partnership to grow and collaboration," said Andrea Ladouceur, President and CEO of Bioscience Association Manitoba.

"Québec has significant strengths in life sciences, and we have much to gain by working more closely together across provinces and with our international partners. Our existing collaboration with BAM has already demonstrated the value of building stronger connections within Canada. This new agreement with BAM and BioWin allows us to build on that relationship while creating new opportunities for our companies in Europe. Ultimately, these partnerships are about opening doors for our members and helping them turn new relationships into concrete business opportunities," said Benoît Larose, President and CEO of BIOQuébec.

"Wallonia, Québec and Manitoba bring complementary strengths and expertise to the life sciences sector. The real value of this partnership will lie in how we put these strengths to work together, turning shared ambitions into concrete collaborative projects, technology development and industrial partnerships. For BioWin, this is what international cooperation should be about: combining expertise, accelerating innovation and creating lasting value for our respective ecosystems," said David Honba, Chief Operating Officer of BioWin.

About BIOQuébec

BIOQuébec is a non-profit association entirely funded by its members. It brings together more nearly 370 companies and organizations active in Québec's life sciences and health technologies industry. Our members operate across the full health innovation continuum and play a significant role in improving quality of life.  Their activities span the discovery of drugs, vaccines, diagnostic tools, and medical technologies (equipment and supplies), as well as their development, manufacturing, and commercialization. BIOQuébec serves as the voice of the industry, fosters connectivity and economic development, and acts as a strategic bridge between the private sector and key stakeholders.

About Bioscience Association Manitoba

Bioscience Association Manitoba (BAM) supports Manitoba's bioscience sector, representing over 200 member companies across, health biotechnology, agricultural biotechnology, and clean biotechnology. BAM helps the industry thrive through advocacy, workforce development, sector promotion, and meaningful connections.

Manitoba is a Canadian leader in bioscience innovation, where health, agriculture, and clean biotech intersect to drive discovery and commercialization. From early research to market-ready solutions, Bioscience Association Manitoba is proud to help grow Manitoba's biotech economy.

About BioWin

BioWin is the health innovation cluster of Wallonia, Belgium. Bringing together over 240 members and partners, including companies, researchers, healthcare organisations and other innovation stakeholders, it helps translate research excellence into economic and societal value. BioWin fosters business opportunities, supports collaborative innovation and helps align projects and collective initiatives with regional and European priorities. Working at the interface of research, industrial development and public policy, BioWin focuses on three strategic areas: biopharma, including advanced therapies; nuclear medicine; and HealthTech.

SOURCE BIOQuébec