The Biotechnology Entrepreneurship Symposium, hosted Oct. 1 by the Master of Medical Biotechnology (MMB) program, offered valuable insights into the intersection of academia and business, highlighted employment in the Canadian health and bioscience industry, and guided attendees to achieve their career goals, says chair Tranum Kaur.

The one-day symposium brought together approximately 200 participants — including experts, industry leaders, alumni, faculty, and students — for discussion, networking opportunities, and career development sessions.

“Overall, the BE Symposium was successful in connecting academia and industry, providing exceptional student experiences, and celebrating alumni successes,” says Dr. Kaur, a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

She praised the keynote address by Charles Boulakia, principal at the law firm Smart & Biggar, which provided insights on patent protection and intellectual property rights and was followed by an engaging question-and-answer session.

“Alumni panel discussions provided attendees with first-hand accounts of career opportunities and success stories in varied industries ranging from nutraceutical to pharmaceutical to clinical research to infection prevention to quality control,” she adds.

MMB graduate student Negar Andisheh calls the symposium a great experience that was well-organized, and provided a perfect balance of learning and networking.

“The sessions were particularly interesting, especially on how to turn biotech ideas into products and protect them with patents,” says Andisheh. “I found the alumni panel discussion very inspiring as it offered practical advice on various career paths. I also picked up some valuable job search strategies, with the best part being how to handle rejection and stay motivated.”

Mustafa Misri, business manager of True Phantom Solutions, which designs and manufactures synthetic models mimicking human tissue and bones for training and testing, said the symposium was a “truly enlightening experience” for industry partners.

“We are deeply impressed by the growth and achievements of the program and are eager to continue our relationship long term,” Misri said.