CASTL partners with British Columbia Institute of Technology on new Biomanufacturing Training Facility

Charlottetown, PE – Today, the Government of Canada and the Government of British Columbia announced a combined $7.2-million investment to create a new biomanufacturing training centre at BCIT, where in partnership with CASTL biomanufacturing training will be delivered to build the talent pool to meet the needs of the growing life sciences and biomanufacturing businesses

The new National Biomanufacturing Training Centre (NBTC) will be the first of its kind in B.C. It will give more people access to hands-on training courses to help them get skills for careers in life sciences and biomanufacturing. The NBTC will be part of CASTL’s national network of training facilities that offer industry-recognized curriculum from CASTL’s global partner, the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT). Based in Ireland, NIBRT is a global centre of excellence for developing state-of-the-art training and research in bioprocessing.

“CASTL is excited to work with BCIT and others to help build a talent engine to power a growing biomanufacturing sector,” said Penny Walsh-McGuire, Executive Director, CASTL. “The launch of this new facility will provide industry employees and post-secondary students with access to theoretical and hands-on training from a globally recognized curriculum. We appreciate the support of the Government of Canada and the Government of British Columbia as well as our network of industry and academic partners.”

The new facility will contain state-of-the-art pilot-scale bioprocessing equipment that will allow learners from industry and academic programs to gain practical skills that are immediately transferable to process scale-up and clean room environments. 
 

It will be equipped with laboratories and classroom spaces built to allow our industry-informed trainers to deliver the highest quality training programs in a realistic GMP-simulated operational manufacturing environment.
 

CASTL training facilities are designed to allow employees and trainees a learning environment where they can make mistakes safely - avoiding deviations, lost time or lost batches in a real manufacturing setting.

“This National Biomanufacturing Training Centre is a natural extension of BCIT's expertise in workforce development to support Canada's Life Sciences sector,” said Paul McCullough, BCIT Interim President. “With funding support from the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada, we are excited to move forward in collaboration with the Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences to develop a state-of-the-art facility and suite of programs to respond to industry need. British Columbia has long been recognized as a leader in biosciences and today marks another important milestone in creating a home for biomanufacturing workforce development and offering a portfolio of programs to support the growth of this sector.”
 

CASTL is supported by lead national partner, the adMare Academy. Together, CASTL and adMare Bioinnovations adMare Academy work to facilitate the development, delivery, and growth of training programs across the country.
 

“adMare is proud to partner with CASTL to develop biomanufacturing talent across Canada. The opening of the British Columbia Biomanufacturing Training Facility strengthens the national network essential to develop talented employees, which form the core of a strong life science industry,” said Gordon McCauley, President & CEO of adMare BioInnovations. 
 

The facility at BCIT’s campus is expected to open in Spring 2024 with the first biomanufacturing training program delivered later that summer.
 

In October 2022, CASTL opened its first Biomanufacturing Training Facility in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. In January 2023, CASTL announced its second Biomanufacturing Training Facility would open in Montreal, Quebec, in Fall 2023.
 

For more information on CASTL training programs, visit castlcanada.ca.
 

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Media Contact
Chelsey Rogerson
Director of Communications and Marketing
CASTL
C: 902.213.7351
E: chelsey@castlcanada.ca 

About CASTL
The Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) delivers on the economic and sectoral demand for individuals who are work-ready to enter, thrive and meet the needs of the fast-growing Canadian biomanufacturing industry. A national initiative of the PEI BioAlliance, with headquarters and the first biomanufacturing training facility open in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, CASTL is expanding its national network with facilities planned for Quebec and British Columbia. CASTL is the exclusive provider of the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research, and Training (NIBRT) licensed training programs in Canada. Based in Ireland, NIBRT develops and delivers state-of-the-art training and education programs for the world’s leading biopharmaceutical manufacturing companies and partner academic institutions. CASTL is supported by National Lead Partner adMare Academy. The adMare Academy is dedicated to providing the specialized training required to foster the next generation of highly qualified personnel who will drive the growth of Canadian life science companies. castlcanada.ca

About BCIT
For nearly 60 years, the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) has been delivering flexible, relevant, and future-proof education that prepares learners to provide applied solutions to industry challenges. As one of BC’s largest post-secondary institutes with five campuses, 300+ programs, and over 45,000 students enrolled each year, BCIT connects education, industry, and government in building an agile workforce with sustained and meaningful impact. The BCIT curriculum is developed through close consultation with industry, and delivered by instructors who have direct, hands-on experience in their fields. Students gain the technical skills, real-world experience, and problem-solving ability needed to lead innovation in their workplaces and communities. www.bcit.ca

About adMare BioInnovations
With a wealth of globally competitive scientific discovery, Canada is primed to lead the life sciences world. To make this a reality, at adMare BioInnovations, we use our scientific and commercial expertise, specialized R&D infrastructure, and seed capital to build strong life sciences companies, robust ecosystems, and industry-ready talent — and re-invest our returns back into the Canadian industry to ensure it is sustained for the long-term. As part of our commitment to build talent, we have created the adMare Academy, dedicated to providing the specialized training required to foster the next generation of highly qualified personnel who will drive the growth of Canadian life science companies. www.admarebio.com