Innovation Saskatchewan is responsible for implementing the province’s innovation priorities and helping grow Saskatchewan’s tech sector. Effective April 2022, this includes operation of the Innovation Place technology parks in Saskatoon and Regina.
Curious about the tenants at Innovation Place?
Check out our Meet the Tenants series to learn more about them and what they do.
Meet the Tenants
Innovation Place tenant since
2018
Building
407 Downey Rd, Dr. Burton Craig Building
Park
Innovation Place, Saskatoon
ZYUS is a Canadian-based life sciences company focused on the global development and commercialization of innovative cannabinoid-based therapeutics and product candidates. Through clinical research and IP development, ZYUS intends to deliver high-quality oils, gelcaps, topical creams to patients worldwide. The ZYUS vision is to elevate cannabinoids as a standard of care and expand the potential of protein-based formulations in pursuit of a transformational impact on patients’ lives.
Saskatchewan is home; the people of this province have always been good to me throughout my career. There is so much promise in Saskatchewan’s tech sector, especially in agriculture and bioscience and it’s great to be a part of it.
Saskatchewan often goes unrecognized on a national scale and for that reason, it is sometimes overlooked in terms of funding for innovation and technology. It also comes up against an unfortunate reputation nationally, and many industry professionals are unwilling to relocate to the province, meaning we often face a lack of resources here.
What I can tell you is that I have grown up in Saskatchewan and spent more than 30 years as an agricultural entrepreneur here. The province has a long history of innovative thinking and research that has been building an exciting frontier of what agriculture and bioscience can do for Canada, and the world. I do feel like I’m at the centre of it all, here.
The beauty of Innovation Place is that being in such close proximity to a Tier A education institution, we have a tight hub of professionals and innovative thinkers here and are able to benefit from the resources that the university provides.
We are working towards changing the perceptions of Saskatchewan, especially its tech sector, by spreading the word about ZYUS on a national -- and even international -- scale to try to further elevate the reputation of Saskatchewan.
The future of tech in Saskatchewan looks very promising to me, thanks in large part to programs like Ag-West Bio’s new Beyond Entrepreneurship: Building an Agri-Value Business program. There is untapped potential in Saskatchewan that is just waiting for the opportunity that will be provided through programs such as this.
Early in my career I received support and funding from Ag-West Bio and have made a donation to the new entrepreneurial training program because I want to give back to the next generation of Saskatchewan entrepreneurs and innovators. This is another great aspect of working in the province -– it’s a close-knit community and everyone looks out for each other. It’s a support system like no other.
I’m sure that as the infrastructure of support for technology and innovation in the province improves, we can expect a tech boom in Saskatchewan.
Innovation Place has its finger on the pulse of Saskatchewan’s tech sector. We frequently partner with other leading organizations in Saskatchewan, including the University of Saskatchewan and VIDO-InterVac, which are also located in Innovation Place. Having these incredible resources and partners nearby who share our commitment to research and innovation is a key factor in our continued success.
My favourite spot at Innovation Place was Boffins restaurant, it had a pleasant atmosphere and great food! It was disappointing to see it close in 2019, as it was the perfect place to grab lunch, facilitate business meetings and host corporate events.
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- 2020