CHARLOTTETOWN, Prince Edward Island & MONTREAL–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) announced today its expansion into Quebec with the location of their future Biomanufacturing Training Facility in Montreal.

Located at 4100 Molson Street, in the heart of the Technopôle Angus, the new 4544 square foot training facility will contain leading-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. 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,” said Penny Walsh-McGuire, Executive Director, CASTL.

Located just a few kilometres 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.

“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,” said Christian Yaccarini, CEO of la Société de développement Angus.

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.

“This new training centre will strengthen our province’s expertise in the areas of health and innovation, as well as bolster Quebec and Montreal’s position as leaders in the life sciences field. It’s a major asset to develop and attract new talents in the east end of Montreal,” said Pierre Fitzgibbon, Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy, Minister Responsible for Regional Economic Development and Minister Responsible for the Metropolis and the Montreal Region.

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.

“As a major hub of biotechnology and innovation, Montreal is a phenomenal choice for CASTL’s new biomanufacturing training facility,” says Christine Allen, adMare’s VP of Ecosystems. “adMare is thrilled to welcome CASTL to Montreal, where we can continue to work closely together to train the talent in the Canadian life sciences ecosystem, as their national lead partner.”

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.

For more information on CASTL’s Biomanufacturing Training Programs visit www.castlcanada.ca or email info@castlcanada.ca.

About CASTL

The Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) is a first-of-its-kind partnership between academia, industry, and government to address the future skills needs of the Canadian life sciences sector. Specializing in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, CASTL delivers on the economic and sectoral demand for individuals who are work-ready to enter, thrive and meet the needs of the fast-growing Canadian biomanufacturing industry. CASTL is the exclusive provider of the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) licensed training programs in Canada. Based in Ireland, NIBRT develops and delivers state-of-the-art training and education programs for the world’s leading biopharmaceutical manufacturing companies and partner academic institutions. CASTL is supported by National Lead Partner adMare BioInnovations and its adMare Academy.

www.castlcanada.ca

About Société de développement Angus

Developer, manager and brainchild behind the Technopôle Angus, the SDA is a social-economy enterprise that develops real estate projects that drive urban revitalization. The organization adheres to the principles of sustainable development in an effort to create significant spin-offs for local communities. Technopôle Angus is both an urban revitalization project and a “full-scale” sustainable-development and social-innovation lab. Today, the sector is thriving thanks to all of the organizations, businesses, and commercial establishments in the area. The new eco-district across from Jean-Duceppe Park bustles with workers and thousands of residents from all walks of life, including students and families.

www.sda-angus.com

About adMare BioInnovations

With a wealth of globally competitive scientific discovery, Canada is primed to lead the life sciences world. To make this a reality, at adMare BioInnovations, we use our scientific and commercial expertise, specialized R&D infrastructure, and seed capital to build strong life sciences companies, robust ecosystems, and industry-ready talent — and re-invest our returns back into the Canadian industry to ensure it is sustained for the long-term. As part of our commitment to build talent, we have created the adMare Academy, dedicated to providing the specialized training required to foster the next generation of highly qualified personnel who will drive the growth of Canadian life science companies.

www.admarebio.com

Contacts

Media
Chelsey Rogerson

Director of Communications and Marketing

CASTL

C: 902.213.7351

E: chelsey@castlcanada.ca

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Fifth Wall—the ¹largest venture capital firm focused on technology for the global real estate industry—including those which decarbonize the sector, today announced its expansion into Asia-Pacific (APAC) with the notable appointment of industry veteran Yvonne Voon as a Partner covering APAC and opening of the firm’s Singapore office, its first in the region.

Fifth Wall is the largest built world technology investor with a focus on PropTech and Climate Tech in North America and Europe boasting more than 110 strategic limited partners (LPs) from more than 15 different countries with approximately $3.2B under management. Fifth Wall has previously attracted some of the leading APAC investors including CDL, Keppel Land, MITSUBISHI ESTATE CO., LTD, and NZ Super Fund, among others.

“As the largest and most active built world technology investor across North America and Europe, Fifth Wall has long had ambitions of expanding into Asia,” said Brendan Wallace, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Fifth Wall. “We are thrilled to welcome a senior leader like Yvonne to our team to further propel our commitment to PropTech and Climate Tech globally, replicating our leading position with an expansion to Asia.”

Voon joins the firm after serving as Head of Group Capital Raising for APAC logistics property specialist, LOGOS Property. Prior to LOGOS, Voon had a nearly fourteen year tenure at Credit Suisse, most recently serving as the global investment bank’s Head of Southeast Asia Real Estate, Investment Banking and Capital Markets. Voon holds a Bachelor of Commerce from The University of Melbourne. Voon’s based in Singapore.

“Over the course of my tenure fostering and expanding investor relations, Fifth Wall and their expansive LP network across both the US and Europe has long been on my radar,” stated Voon. “I am excited to leverage my long-standing investor relationships and deep market expertise at the critical intersection of technology and real estate to help accelerate the growth of PropTech and Climate Tech across the APAC region.”

Since Fifth Wall was founded in 2016, PropTech investment in North America grew at a compound annual growth rate of 43% while APAC (ex-China) has grown at a rate of 58%. Today, investment in PropTech is growing faster in APAC than the global growth rate of 26%. The PropTech ecosystem in the region is flourishing, garnering increasing interest from North American VCs, with over 1,000 North American VCs active in Asia.

About Fifth Wall

Founded in 2016, Fifth Wall, a Certified B Corporation, is the largest venture capital firm focused on technology for the global real estate industry. With approximately $3.2B in commitments and capital under management, Fifth Wall connects many of the world’s largest owners and operators of real estate with the entrepreneurs who are redefining the future of the Built World. Fifth Wall is backed by a global mix of more than 110 strategic limited partners (LPs) from more than 15 countries, including BNP Paribas Real Estate, British Land, CBRE, Cushman & Wakefield, Hilton, Host Hotels & Resorts, Ivanhoé Cambridge, Kimco Realty Corporation, Lennar, Lowe’s Home Improvement, Marriott International, MetLife Investment Management, MGM Resorts, Related Companies, Starwood Capital, Toll Brothers, and others. Fifth Wall believes this consortium represents one of the largest groups of potential partners in the global Built World ecosystem, which can result in transformational investments and collaborations with promising portfolio companies. For more information about Fifth Wall, its LPs, and portfolio, visit www.fifthwall.com.

¹Based on assets under management as of January 12th, 2023

Contacts

Elise Szwajkowski

Head Of Communications, Fifth Wall

eszwajkowski@fifthwall.com
773-326-8546