Nominations for the Gold Leaf Awards will run until March 31, 2025

Celebrating the Best in Canadian Biotech
BIOTECanada’s Gold Leaf Awards recognize the remarkable individuals and companies who have made significant contributions to the biotech industry in Canada. All nominees and winners are great examples of the core strengths of Canada’s biotech ecosystem.
The 2025 Gold Leaf Award winners will be celebrated at BIO International in Boston in June.

2025 Gold Leaf Award Categories
- Biotech Company Award
- Community Leadership (Research & Innovation) Award
- Promising Biotech Company of the Year Award
- Industry Leadership (Ecosystem Builder) Award
Biotech Company Award
The “Biotech Company Award” celebrates a distinguished organization that has made significant contributions to the Canadian biotechnology sector. This award honours companies that have demonstrated exemplary performance and innovation in one or more of the following areas
Read more about the award here
- Technological Advancements: Success in developing and implementing groundbreaking biotechnological innovations that have the potential to transform the biotech industry.
- Achievement of Business Milestones: Recognizing the company’s ability to reach business milestones that signify growth, market presence, and operational excellence within the biotech landscape.
- Development of a Robust and Diverse Product Pipeline: The establishment of a solid and diversified pipeline that reflects the company’s commitment to addressing a wide array of healthcare needs, ensuring long-term sustainability, and impact in the biotech field.
This award underscores the recipient’s role as a pillar in the Canadian biotech community, showcasing their dedication to pushing the boundaries of science and business to foster innovation, drive industry progress, and contribute to the advancement of biotechnology in Canada.
Community Leadership (Research & Innovation) Award
The “Community Leadership (Research & Innovation) Award,” is designed to honour the visionary minds and rising stars who are shaping the future of the biotech industry through their exceptional dedication and innovative contributions. This award acknowledges individuals who have exhibited remarkable leadership and commitment in the following settings
Read more about the award here
- Academic Excellence: Celebrating individuals at universities who have distinguished themselves through groundbreaking research, academic achievements, and the ability to inspire and lead their peers towards new horizons in biotechnology.
- Research Innovation: Recognizing peers in research laboratories who have demonstrated unparalleled dedication to advancing biotechnological research, developing innovative solutions, and contributing to the scientific community’s body of knowledge.
- Entrepreneurial Spirit in Pre-commercial SMEs: Honouring leaders within pre-commercial small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) who have shown extraordinary vision in steering their companies towards impactful biotechnological breakthroughs, thereby laying the groundwork for future commercial success.
The “Community Leadership (Research & Innovation) Award,” is not merely a recognition of what has been achieved, but a celebration of the potential to drive transformative change in the biotech industry. It highlights the recipient’s role in laying the foundation for the solutions that will address the most pressing challenges faced by society today and in the future.
Promising Biotech Company of the Year Award
The “Promising Biotech Company of the Year Award” is an award designed to spotlight small and mid-sized pre-commercial companies that have set themselves apart from their peers through exceptional achievements and forward-thinking approaches. This award seeks to recognize those organizations that are paving the way towards innovative solutions for current challenges, highlighting their potential to significantly impact the biotech industry. The areas of achievement include
Read more about the award here
- Technological Advancements: Celebrating companies that have made significant strides in biotechnology through innovative research, development, and application of new technologies. This includes breakthroughs that have the potential to transform healthcare, agriculture, environmental sustainability, and more.
- Business Milestones: Acknowledging companies that have reached critical business milestones, demonstrating strong growth potential, strategic leadership, and the ability to overcome obstacles. This includes notable achievements in funding, scaling operations, or achieving key regulatory milestones.
- Potential for Strategic Partnerships: Recognizing companies that have shown early indications of forming significant partnerships, which could amplify their impact on the biotech landscape. This includes collaborations with academic institutions, industry leaders, or other organizations that can provide complementary strengths and resources.
The “Promising Biotech Company of the Year Award” is not just an acknowledgment of past and present accomplishments but also a testament to the recipient’s potential to drive future innovations and contribute to the global advancement of biotechnology. This award honours those companies that embody the spirit of innovation, showcasing a promising trajectory in the biotech sector.
Industry Leadership (Ecosystem Builder) Award
The “Industry Leadership (Ecosystem Builder) Award” recognizes an individual who has exhibited unparalleled vision and leadership in the Canadian biotechnology sector, with a significant impact on a global scale. This award celebrates visionary leaders who have not only contributed to the advancement of biotechnology in Canada but have also set new benchmarks for excellence across the industry. Key areas of achievement for this award include
Read more about the award here
- Promotion of Industry Growth: Recognizing leaders who have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to fostering the growth and development of the biotechnology industry within Canada. This includes efforts to enhance innovation, support startups, and attract investment, thereby strengthening Canada’s position on the global biotech stage.
- Achievement of Significant Milestones: Honouring individuals who have been instrumental in reaching pivotal milestones that have propelled the industry forward. This includes groundbreaking discoveries in biotech research, securing substantial investments, advancing the development of new technologies or therapies, and pioneering unique business models that are shaping the biotech industry landscape.
The “Industry Leadership (Ecosystem Builder) Award” is designed to acknowledge those exceptional leaders whose contributions have not only propelled their organizations to new heights but have also inspired change and progress throughout the Canadian biotech ecosystem. Their visionary leadership, coupled with a commitment to innovation and excellence, exemplifies the transformative impact one individual can have in advancing biotechnology both domestically and on a global platform.
Gold Leaf Awards Advisory Group
BIOTECanada’s Gold Leaf Awards started 20 years ago recognizing the remarkable individuals and companies who have made significant contributions to the biotechnology industry and ecosystem in Canada.
Given the industry’s recent momentum, and public interest in solutions, BIOTECanada created an independent, robust, and informed process for the governance, nomination, and selection process of the Gold Leaf Awards. An advisory group comprised of esteemed and respected industry leaders representing various BIOTECanada member constituencies assess the award categories, criteria, and select the winners.
Gold Leaf Awards Advisory Group Members:
- Maxime Pesant – Fonds de Solidarité FTQ
- John Norman – Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP
- Shermaine Tilley – CTI Life Sciences Fund
- Penny Walsh-McGuire, Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL)
- Brian Bloom – Bloom Burton & Co.
- Stéphanie Michaud – BioCanRx