Canadian biopharmaceuticals research and development partnering delegation to Germany

Request for expression of interest

Delegation Dates: November 3 to 8, 2024

Global Affairs Canada (GAC), through the Embassy of Canada in Berlin and in collaboration with the National Research Council Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP), invites you to apply to participate in the upcoming "Canadian Biopharmaceuticals research and development (R&D) partnering delegation to Germany" under the Canadian International Innovation Program (CIIP).

The Partnership Development Activity (PDA) is anchored around the Bio-Europe partnering event in Stockholm, Sweden from November 4 to 6, 2024. Interested companies must apply no later than June 14, 2024.

Delegation objective

The delegation objective is to foster partnerships between Canadian small-to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with potential German SMEs, research institutions, and large corporations for purpose of R&D collaboration in biopharmaceuticals.

Examples of R&D collaboration include, but are not limited to the following:

• validation of the suitability of Canadian technology to the German market and/or other markets
• adaptation of Canadian technology to meet German and/or other market characteristics
• joint development of new products and/or services by combining Canadian and German technologies

Canadian delegation profile

This delegation is targeting Canadian SMEs in the following fields:

• Advanced therapies (cell and gene therapies; CAR-T and CAR-NK cells, etc);
• Drug delivery (LNPs, viral vectors) with genetic medicine payloads (mRNA, siRNA, CRISPR, etc.);
• Antibody-based therapeutics and other targeted biologics;
• Companion diagnostics;
• Biomanufacturing enabling technologies for the therapy and vaccine types listed above.

Canadian participants must meet the requirements below in order to participate in this delegation:

• Profit-oriented Small to Medium Size Enterprise (SME) incorporated in Canada
• Previous experience in market access in domestic and/or international markets
• Capacity and interest to partner with compatible German SMEs and research institutes
• Committed to expansion to the German and European markets
• Sufficient working capital and human resources to undertake a multi-year R&D collaboration, including costs associated with possible clinical trials and other market access requirements

To provide the delegation with a target rich environment for R&D, the PDA will center around BIO Europe in Stockholm from November 4 to 6, 2024. BIO Europe is a popular pharmaceutical and biotech event that focuses on R&D partnering rather than sales. In addition to guiding B2Bs for the delegation, Global Affairs Canada through the Canadian Embassies in Berlin and Stockholm will also host a Canada reception to maximize networking opportunities. Following BIO Europe, the delegation will travel to southern Germany to visit research institutes and universities and to conduct B2Bs in Munich and Heidelberg.

The delegation will focus on establishing industrial R&D collaboration opportunities. The itinerary will include:

• Pre-delegation briefing and pitch training;
• Information sessions on market insights, and joint R&D funding opportunities;
• Networking events featuring German research institutes, companies, and industry associations;
• Tailored B2B meetings with German companies and/or research centres to identify similar interests, potential partners and groups.

Possible itinerary (TBD):

• Saturday November 2 and Sunday November 3: Arrival in Stockholm
• Sunday November 3: Welcoming event at the Embassy of Canada to Sweden, pre-BIO Europe reception.
• Monday November 4: BIO-Europe in Stockhom, B2Bs and Canada reception
• Tuesday November 5: BIO-Europe in Stockholm, B2Bs
• Wednesday November 6: Fly to Munich, B2Bs
• Thursday November 7: Site visits in Munich such as LMU, TUM and Helmholtz Munich, followed by travel to Heidelberg
• Friday November 8: B2B session in Heidelberg and visit to European Molecular Biology Laboratory Heidelberg and German Cancer Research Center.

End of Delegation (departure from Frankfurt is recommended)

Why Germany?

Germany constitutes the major European pharmaceutical market and the fourth largest worldwide. Driven by trends such as demographic change, a rise in chronic diseases and an increasing emphasis on prevention and self-medication, Europe's biggest pharmaceutical market is growing faster than the German economy. In 2022, pharmaceutical industry sales in Germany increased by 5.4 percent, reaching EUR 56.5 billion.

Germany belongs to the world's leading clinical trial locations and - based on R&D investment and patent application levels - is the leading pharmaceutical innovation location in Europe. In light of the global need for personalized medicine, Germany has also evolved into one of the main suppliers of novel biopharmaceuticals.

In 2021, the pharmaceutical industry in Germany invested over EUR 8.7 billion in R&D – more than in any other European country. The German pharmaceutical sector shows the highest research intensity across all major German industries.

Combining cutting edge-innovation, a long tradition as the "world´s pharmacy" and continuously growing demand for healthcare products, Germany is the ideal location for pharmaceutical R&D, production, and sales of medicines. More than 600 pharmaceutical companies are in Germany.

Large companies have moved their focus from small molecule drugs towards the development and production of complex biological compounds that are made with the help of a variety of organisms. Because of their high therapeutic potential, biologics have taken up a considerable share of the pharmaceutical market in Germany. From 2021 to 2022, the biologics market grew by 10.5 percent – almost twice the growth of the overall pharma market.

The biggest challenges in this field are access to capital and complex regulatory and reimbursement pathways.

Financial support to participate in the delegation

The Canadian International Innovation Program (CIIP) will provide financial support to eligible Canadian SMEs participants for up to 50% of all eligible expenses (see application process below) that include but are not limited to the following:

• Economy class airfare
• Local transportation
  • Accommodation
  • Meals (per diems)
  • Conference registration fees

Consult the Canadian International Innovation Program (CIIP) Applicant Guide for the complete list of eligible expenses. To access the CIIP Applicant Guide contact the CIIP team at innovation@international.gc.ca.

How to Apply for Participation

1. Interested companies and organizations should request an application form from the CIIP team at Global Affairs Canada: innovation@international.gc.ca.
2. Completed forms are to be submitted by June 14, 2024, to the CIIP team at Global Affairs Canada: innovation@international.gc.ca.
3. Global Affairs Canada through the Canadian embassy in Germany and NRC-IRAP will select Canadian companies to participate in the delegation and provide selected applicants with a notification by June 28, 2024.
4. Companies formally selected to participate in the delegation will be invited to apply for travel funding support.
5. Companies who apply for travel support will be notified of the funding decision by July 12, 2024.

Important notes

Participation is limited. Applications submitted will be assessed and vetted to determine eligibility based on the quality of the information provided. In addition to the technical merits of the proposed technology, the company's internal capacity to adequately support and manage an international R&D project with Germany partners will also be assessed.

Academia, Research Technology Organisations (RTOs), Incubators, Industry Associations are welcome to submit an application for the delegation but will not be eligible for financial support for travel nor participation expenses.

If you have any questions concerning the application process, please see the CIIP webpage and/or email the CIIP team at innovation@international.gc.ca.