Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin has announced an initiative to support co-operation between Canada and Ireland in the development of the biotechnology and life-science sectors.

Biolink Canada-Ireland will facilitate scientists, industry, academia and government agencies in creating opportunities for research partnerships, exchanges of information and the commercialisation of ideas. The Minister also signed a memorandum of understanding with Toronto-based Medical and Related Sciences Research Facility (MaRS), which was created five years ago and is designed to bring together scientists, financiers, regulators and industry groups to "increase the commercialisation efficiency of Canada", according to MaRS director Dr Elsa Marziali.

The centre was the brainchild of private-sector interests who raised 15 million Canadian dollars to kickstart the project. With university and state funding, more than C$100 million has been invested in the facility.

Some 65 companies, including four university research labs and industry giants such as AstraZeneca and Royal Bank of Canada, work out of the centre.

One of the tenants, Transition Therapeutics, recently landed a deal with Irish drug group Elan to develop a treatment for Alzheimer's disease. The deal is being hailed by MaRS as one of the major successes of its collaborative approach. The Biolink initiative will provide Canada with a "gateway to Europe", according to Dr Marziali.

"Canada is the world's third largest biotechnology cluster," Mr Martin said. "The creation of the Biolink Canada-Ireland network and its agreement with MaRS will further enhance the potential of Irish biotechnology sector."

The Minister is leading a trade mission to Canada this week.