The Prince Edward Island BioAlliance has appointed Mark Redmond as Director of Incubation Services for the Emergence incubator, which supports life sciences startups in Atlantic Canada and elsewhere.

The BioAlliance – a partnership of government, industry and academia dedicated to fostering the life sciences sector on the Island – issued a statement Friday announcing the appointment. It said Redmond will work to expand the group’s impact on new ventures, support entrepreneurs and cultivate strong networks across the region and Canada.

With a PhD in molecular biology and immunology, Redmond has experience as a medical researcher, intellectual property manager, senior health system administrator, education leader and entrepreneur.

"I think one of my greatest strengths is as a systems thinker—someone who sees the opportunity behind issues and challenges," said Redmond in the press release. "I’m looking forward to working with our innovators and partners to help us achieve our respective goals and further grow the bio-economy in P.E.I., seizing the opportunities for today and for our future."

Founded by the PEI BioAlliance, Emergence has evolved into a facility that aided a core of companies in Atlantic Canada, and other companies across Canada and elsewhere to build out its network. Until January, the incubator was headed by Martin Yuill, who left to head the new Cleantech Commons in Peterborough, Ont.

As of February, Emergence was offering support to 73 companies. About 65 percent of them are pre-revenue and 45 percent are headed by women.

Born in Liverpool, England, Redmond brings a range of technical experience ranging from human health and veterinary medicine to biochemicals, from botanical and marine sources to sensors and devices, and from remote application monitoring to manufacturing and systems’ simulation.

Redmond launched more than 20 patent-protected products, including pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and medical devices, in Canadian, American, European, Australian and Japanese markets. In recognition of this work, he received the Frost & Sullivan Product Innovation Award, the BioAlberta Entrepreneur of the Year title, and a nomination as Ernst & Young Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year.

To support talented entrepreneurs and enterprise, he co-founded the A100, a self-funding community of seasoned founders and executives who led technology companies. The A100 focuses on having the entrepreneur develop the full potential of the businessperson, not just the business.

"I am pleased to welcome Mark to the PEI BioAlliance,” said BioAlliance CEO Rory Francis in the statement. “Mark's impressive scientific background, private sector experience with startups, capital formation and IPOs, along with his experience in the academic world, will be very valuable to us and our partners as we continue our mission of incubating early stage bio-based companies across Atlantic Canada and growing the PEI Bioscience Cluster. "