A few weeks ago, Conscience’s Chief Science Officer Aled Edwards and board member Florence Rozen—who also serves as Scientific Director of Investments at the Fonds de solidarité FTQ—participated in a standout panel on open science at the Fonds’ invitation-only Life Sciences Symposium in Montréal. The event marked the Fonds’ 35-year commitment to innovation in Québec’s life sciences ecosystem, with nearly 120 leading figures from biotech, venture capital, academia, and government in attendance.
The panel was moderated by Rozen and featured Edwards alongside Clarissa Desjardins (CEO, Congruence) and Maha Katabi (General Partner, Sofinnova Investments), sparking lively debate on the role of open science in drug development. While some panelists expressed skepticism toward fully open approaches, the exchange gave the audience fresh insight into a model that is still unfamiliar to many in the Canadian life sciences space. The panel drew strong feedback from attendees, many of whom said the subject matter was new and eye-opening. It marked an important moment for introducing Conscience and the case for open science into broader conversations in the Canadian life sciences community.
With over $2 billion invested to date, the Fonds de solidarité FTQ is the largest institutional life sciences investor in Québec and Canada. The Symposium provided an opportunity to take stock of the industry’s progress, discuss its current challenges, and explore paths forward. We’re proud that Conscience was able to contribute meaningfully to those conversations—and help put open science more firmly on the map.
