A colleague catches Dr. Rafi Hofstein on the way into his office and outlines a project snag. Dr. Hofstein, the chief executive officer of MaRS Innovation, a new entity charged with turning Toronto scientists’ ideas into products and profits, is annoyed – both by the interruption and the colleague’s insistence the problem will cause delays. “We have to sign today,” Dr. Hofstein says tersely, already halfway into his office, “so make sure we sign on something that’s agreeable to us.” The door shuts.
Dr. Hofstein has no time for internal diplomacy. He’s here to get things done the entrepreneurial way: shrewdly, creatively and as quickly as possible. He’s been given five years to turn the vast scientific talent clustered around University Avenue into the seeds of a vibrant biotechnology industry. And he’s doing it while answering to 14 research institutions and three levels of government. The job, says a close observer, requires an “arch-politician” – but one who invests in ego-stroking only when it’s necessary.
His challenge is huge, but so is the opportunity. Ontario, and especially Toronto, is home to North America’s third-largest medical cluster, exceeded only by San Diego and Boston. Starting with the discovery of insulin in 1922 and on through breakthroughs in genomics, stem cells and breast cancer, the city has emerged as a global leader in regenerative medicine, oncology and medical device technology. The 2.5 square kilometres centred around the University of Toronto and the downtown hospitals, dubbed the Discovery District, may be the most concentrated area of medical research in the world, says Matt Buist, biotech manager for Toronto Economic Development, who branded the area in the mid-1990s as part of an effort to attract investment.
To read the full, original article click on this link: The man behind the MaRS mission - The Globe and Mail
Author: Joanna Pachner
