Jianan (Jack) Chen
Co-Founder, David Dolphin Foundation for Innovation & Bio-Industry
Jianan (Jack) Chen is a Canadian entrepreneur, researcher by training, and business leader active across biopharmaceutical development, biotechnology, and real estate investment. His career has evolved around opportunities where scientific research, commercial strategy, and long-term social value seamlessly come together.
"For Jack, the Foundation is ultimately about building bridges between science and industry, Canada and the world, and one generation of innovators and the next."
The Canadian Journey & Academic Roots
Jack came to Canada as an international student after receiving a Canadian scholarship to pursue his graduate studies. He earned a Master of Science degree in Food Science and Applied Microbiology from the University of Saskatchewan and later undertook doctoral studies in Bioinformatics at the University of British Columbia.
That opportunity to study and build his life in Canada had a lasting influence on him. Having personally benefited from Canada's education, research environment, and openness to people from around the world, Jack developed a strong desire to give something back. Over time, this became a broader mission: to help build an ecosystem in Canada that brings together science, entrepreneurship, capital, industry, and international collaboration.
Translating Research into Real-World Impact
Jack considers himself an ordinary researcher and entrepreneur with an ambitious goal to leave a positive impact by working on meaningful projects. Rather than focusing on any single industry, his work spans biopharmaceutical development, life sciences, animal health, technology commercialization, and investment.
He is particularly interested in helping promising scientific ideas move beyond the laboratory and become technologies, companies, products, and industries with real-world impact.
The Foundation & Global Ecosystem
Together with Professor David Dolphin, Jack co-founded the David Dolphin Foundation for Innovation & Bio-Industry. The Foundation reflects a mission that has grown out of his own Canadian journey: to strengthen Canada's innovation and bio-industry ecosystem, connect Canadian talent and discoveries with global opportunities, encourage collaboration across the Asia-Pacific and beyond, and create opportunities for the next generation of scientists, entrepreneurs, and innovators.
Science to Industry
Moving scientific discoveries beyond the laboratory bench into technologies and products with real-world impact.
Global Collaboration
Connecting Canadian talent and discoveries with international opportunities, capital, and Asia-Pacific networks.
Next-Gen Empowerment
Building long-term pathways and opportunities for future scientists, entrepreneurs, and bio-industry leaders.