The Ottawa region is a global technology centre with more than 1,000 companies involved in the growth sectors of telecommunications, photonics, microelectronics, software and life sciences. Ottawa is becoming one of Canada’s centres of excellence in life sciences. Covering such fields as biotechnology, medical technology and health-related systems, more than 11,000 people are directly employed in the region's life sciences sector, both public and private.

Ottawa’s two main universities include Carleton and the University of Ottawa, both in close proximity to government agencies, laboratories and libraries.

Canada’s top government research and development organizations are located in Ottawa and include:

National Research Council - Canada’s leading government R & D organization is a major force in the Government of Canada's drive to build a strong national system of innovation. Eleven of the organization’s 16 Institutes are located in Ottawa.

National Sciences and Engineering Research Council - The national instrument for making strategic investments in science and technology capabilities through university research. 

The Ottawa Life Sciences Council is a not for profit organization committed to stimulating the growth of the Life Sciences sector in the Ottawa area. Through its programs, projects, and events, OLSC strives to foster the development of new technologies & companies as well as raise the profile of the local Life Sciences Industry, both nationally and internationally.

OLSC is located in the Ottawa Life Sciences Technology Park adjacent to the Ottawa Health Sciences Centre.

The Ottawa Life Sciences Technology Park (OLSTP) is a 22 acre (9 hectare) research and development park for the life sciences sector. The Ottawa Life Sciences Technology Park (OLSTP) is located in the heart of one of Canada's largest concentrations of clinical, medical and life sciences research and technology organizations. The Ottawa area offers close proximity to Canada's regulators and a large pool of talented researchers, managers and development staff.

The Ottawa Biotechnology Incubation Centre in Ottawa will uniquely focus on the intersection of health and biomedical sciences (health), advanced agricultural technologies and bio-product sciences. Bioproduct technologies use of plants or animals to produce value-added products such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, nutraceuticals, bio-chemicals, plastics and alternative fuels.

Sources of information:
Ottawa Life Sciences Council
Ottawa Economic Development Office