The Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) has expanded into Quebec with a new Biomanufacturing Training Facility in Montreal.

Located at 4100 Molson Street, in the heart of the Technopôle Angus, the new 4,544 square foot training facility will contain cutting-edge pilot-scale bioprocessing equipment that will allow employees to gain practical skills that are immediately transferable to process scale-up and clean room environments. The facility will be equipped with laboratories and classroom spaces built to deliver the highest quality bioprocessing training. With this new facility, CASTL can deliver on-site customized hands-on and theoretical training for entry-level employees through to senior management and post-secondary students.

“CASTL is excited to buildout partnerships with academia, industry, and government in Quebec to address the future skills needs of the bioscience sector,” said Penny Walsh-McGuire, executive director, CASTL. “This new facility located in Technopôle Angus responds to the demand for highly skilled personnel in Quebec’s growing biomanufacturing sector. We’re pleased to partner with Société de développement Angus on this initiative.”

Located just a few kilometers from downtown Montreal in the heart of the Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie borough, Technopôle Angus is a significant health care hub in East Montreal and houses public and private medical clinics and many organizations offering research, health, and wellness services.

Christian Yaccarini, CEO of la Société de développement Angus, said, “The arrival of the CASTL Biomanufacturing Training Facility at Technopôle Angus marks a step forward in our efforts to establish the Personalized Healthcare Zone in eastern Montreal. We are looking forward to trainees coming to the facility and discovering everything this site has to offer.”

In April 2022, CASTL announced the intent to establish a biomanufacturing training facility in Quebec. The facility development is made possible through a contribution of $2.5 million from the Quebec Government. It is expected to open in Fall 2023.

A national initiative supporting Canada’s life sciences ecosystem, CASTL offers training specializing in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. CASTL is supported by National Lead Partner adMare BioInnovations and its adMare Academy.

In September 2022, CASTL opened its first biomanufacturing training facility in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Additional facility locations within Canada are being considered to ensure broad geographic access to this type of critical training.