Surrey’s Thriving Health and Life Sciences Sector

Key Takeaways

Surrey’s Health and Technology District now hosts over 220 life science companies and 2,500 patients daily.
The new Surrey hospital, breaking ground in September 2023, is set to open in 2030; it will be fully electric and include a BC Cancer Centre.
Simon Fraser University is establishing Western Canada’s first new medical school since 1967, opening in fall 2026, to train more family doctors.

Surrey’s City Centre has transformed into a central hub for biotechnology and health technology in British Columbia over the past decade. This development is supported by nearly $2 billion in government investments aimed at enhancing health infrastructure and talent farming. Significant projects include a new state-of-the-art hospital and a cancer treatment center, alongside plans for B.C.’s second medical school at the Simon Fraser University (SFU) Surrey campus. The Health and Technology District, located near Surrey Memorial Hospital, includes over 220 life science firms that manage approximately 2,500 patient visits daily.

HealthTech Connex (HTC), housed in the Health and Technology District and developed by parent company Lark Group, focuses on tech-driven innovations aimed at improving health outcomes. Since its inception in 2013, HTC has enabled three innovative companies—NeuroCatch Inc., The Centre for Neurology Studies, and the Surrey Neuroplasticity Clinic—to work on advancements in brain health. Recently, HTC was recognized as one of two Canadian firms to join the prestigious MedTech Innovator cohort. In June 2023, it received $1 million from the Canadian government to support its pioneering concussion detection technology and earned a Gold Globee award for its medical equipment innovations.

On September 2023, the provincial government broke ground on Surrey’s new fully electric hospital, scheduled to open in 2030. This facility will increase the region’s healthcare capacity, featuring an expanded emergency department, 168 beds, and a new BC Cancer Centre that aims to deliver around 100,000 cancer treatments annually. Dr. Victoria Lee, former Fraser Health CEO, highlighted the hospital’s role in advancing patient-centered care in the region.

In tandem, SFU is expanding its educational offerings with a new medical school, the first established in Western Canada in 55 years. Slated to open in fall 2026, the school aims to align with community healthcare needs and embed Indigenous knowledge into its curriculum. Recent government funding of $33.7 million has been allocated for the school’s interim campus, alongside operational support. The inaugural class will feature 48 students focused on family medicine.

UBC also plays a key role in Surrey’s health sector, operating a facility in the Health and Technology District supported by $24.9 million in provincial funding. Anticipating a surge in training for roles like physical therapists and midwives, the government is pushing forward under the StrongerBC: Future Ready Action Plan. As a dynamic health hub, Surrey boasts around 900 businesses related to healthcare, projected to create over 1.5 million square feet of innovative space and contribute more than $1.1 billion annually to the local economy.

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