05/29/2026
Sanofi recently announced a $294 million expansion in Ontario, and we appreciated the opportunity to speak with Sanofi’s Global Head of Digital Strategy and Operations, Dimitrije Jankovic to gain additional insight into the investment:
❓Can you describe the situation Sanofi was facing when you first connected with Invest Ontario?
➡️ Sanofi has been rapidly expanding our AI capabilities, and we reached an inflection point. We reached out for external support to capitalize on this momentum. Hiring 50+ specialized roles would not be as smooth without a partnership with Invest Ontario, that provided support necessary to expand our AI Centre of Excellence in Toronto.
❓What's the most important thing about this expansion?
➡️ This expansion will create career opportunities at Sanofi that AI professionals won't find elsewhere. Here they will work on AI applications that directly impact patient lives with the resources of a global biopharma leader. We're offering the scale, and purpose that most companies can't provide. It demonstrates Sanofi's long-term commitment to Ontario as a global hub for life sciences innovation in AI.
❓How did the Ontario ecosystem help and who are you looking forward to working with?
➡️ Ontario's AI ecosystem offers unparalleled opportunities for collaboration across industry partners, talent networks, and academia. We're looking to connect with organizations across the ecosystem to build partnerships that strengthen Ontario's position as a global AI hub. This collaborative approach allows us to support Ontario's AI ecosystem through our contributions through our biopharma expertise to advance innovation across sectors.
❓What are you most excited about this project?
➡️ The most exciting aspect of this expansion is the opportunity to build AI capabilities that directly accelerate how medicines reach patients - through initiatives ranging from automating regulatory documentation to deploying conversational AI in clinical trials to real-time pharmacovigilance. This expansion creates opportunities for professionals to tackle problems at a scale and complexity that drives meaningful impact across the Ontario's Biopharma AI ecosystem.
❓What would you say to other companies considering expanding or staying in Ontario?
➡️ Toronto is at the intersection of North American markets and world-class AI expertise that's ready to tackle complex challenges. Ontario's collaborative ecosystem means companies, academia, and government work together in ways that are rare globally, creating opportunities for meaningful partnerships. For any company looking to scale in AI innovation, Ontario offers the geographic advantage, talent depth, and collaborative spirit that makes breakthrough work possible.
Learn more: https://www.investontario.ca/press-release/sanofi-expands-global-ai-centre-excellence-scaling-operations-its-toronto-digital-hub?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=0529sanofiecho