
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 2023 Gold Leaf Awards ceremony will be held on September 27 at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa during Global Biotech Week: September 24 – 30, 2023. For more information contact: info@biotech.ca
2023 Gold Leaf Award Categories
- Next Generation Leadership Award
- Ecosystem Builder Award
- Promising Biotech Company of the Year Award
- Established Biotech Company of the Year Award
- Game-Changing Industry Leadership Award
Next Generation Leadership Award
Research is the foundation for the solutions the biotech industry is developing. The Gold Leaf Award for Next Generation Leadership recognizes nominees in one or more of the following areas:
- Exceptional dedication at a university, research lab or in a pre-commercial SME
- An emerging researcher under 30 years of age
Winner
- Nabanita Nawar, co-founder/CEO, HDAX Therapeutics
Ecosystem Builder Award
This award recognizes an organization or company who has distinguished itself through its contributions to Canadian biotech, beyond sector business and economic impact, offering significant contributions to a global audience. The award acknowledges leadership and partnership in one or more of the following areas:
- As a milestone collaboration
- A noticeable licensing agreement
- As a technology application
- A new product discovery
Winner
- Bloom Burton & Co.
Established Biotech Company Award
This award recognizes a company who has contributed to the Canadian biotech landscape with a demonstrated effort in one or more of the following areas:
- Through technology advances
- Through business milestones
- A solid foundation for a strong and diverse pipeline
Winner
- Repare Therapeutics
Game-Changing Industry Leadership
This award recognizes an individual who demonstrates exemplary vision in Canadian biotechnology through a global context. The award acknowledges nominees who have raised the bar in one or more of the following areas:
- A commitment to promoting the growth of the biotech industry in Canada
- Reached milestones such as discovery, investment, development, or a unique business model
Winner
- Roberto Bellini
Promising Biotech Company
This award recognizes small and mid-sized pre-commercial companies who have distinguished themselves from the competition. The award acknowledges a company developing future solutions to existing challenges in one or more of the following areas:
- Through technology advances
- Through business milestones
- Early indications of potential partnerships
Winner
Abdera Therapeutics
The 2023 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 assessed the award categories, criteria, and recommended nominations in February. Using clear criteria, all nominations were reviewed, a deliberation process was completed, and the 2023 winners were selected.
Thank you to the 2023 Gold Leaf Awards Advisory Group who lent their time and expertise to the selection process:
- Geneviève Guertin – Fonds de Solidarité FTQ
- John Norman – Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP
- Shermaine Tilley – CTI Life Sciences Fund
- Kathleen Lisaingo – AbCellera
Check out the 2022 Gold Leaf Award winners here.
Thank you to our 2023 Gold Leaf Award Sponsors

