GlycoNet – Global Scientific Community Unveils Roadmap to Advance the Next Frontier of Bio-Innovation
Supported by Canada’s GlycoNet and developed with contributions from more than 100 scientists worldwide, the roadmap calls for coordinated international action to accelerate the impact of glycomics in healthcare, food security, sustainable materials, and the global bioeconomy.
EDMONTON, AB (November 4, 2026) – Scientists across five continents have collaborated to develop a global roadmap outlining how advances in glycomics—the study of complex sugars in living systems—can drive innovation, improve health, strengthen food systems, advance environmental sustainability, and generate economic opportunities.
The Global Glyco-Roadmap: Opportunity to Action and Impact provides a shared vision for advancing glycomics worldwide over the next decade. It identifies scientific priorities, investment opportunities, and practical actions to accelerate the integration of glycomics into research, innovation, and industrial development.
Genomics and proteomics have transformed our understanding of biology, but glycomics remains an essential, yet underexplored, layer of biological information.
Glycans, or complex sugars, play critical roles in cell communication, immune responses, disease development, and interactions between organisms and their environment. While glycan-based innovations already contribute to vaccines, biologic medicines, diagnostics, and biomaterials, their broader potential across healthcare, agriculture, nutrition, and sustainable materials remains largely untapped.
The roadmap highlights the economic significance of glycan-enabled products and technologies, with a combined worldwide market estimated at US 475 billion in 2025 and projected to exceed US 1 trillion by 2035.
For Canada, the roadmap underscores the importance of building on existing strengths in glycomics research and innovation. Through GlycoNet, Canada has developed a nationally connected ecosystem that brings together scientific expertise, specialized research infrastructure, industry partnerships, and commercialization support. As international activity in glycomics accelerates, these capabilities provide an important foundation for strengthening Canada’s competitiveness in the global bioeconomy.
The roadmap calls on governments, funding agencies, research organizations, and industry to integrate glycomics more broadly into national research, development, and investment strategies. It outlines a coordinated approach to strengthening research capacity, aligning national and international efforts, and accelerating the translation and adoption of glycomics innovations over the next decade.
Quotes
“Canada’s research ecosystem empowers innovative minds across the country to develop their big ideas. GlycoNet is a pioneer in glycomics research and, working with partners around the globe, is putting forth a coordinated approach to make advancements in areas such as health care, agriculture, nutrition and sustainable materials, for the benefit of all Canadians. The Government of Canada is proud to support its work in strengthening Canada’s competitiveness in the global bioeconomy through the Strategic Science Fund.” — The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
“At the CFI, we know that world-class research infrastructure turns scientific ambition into real-world impact. This roadmap shows how Canada can build on its strengths in glycomics by bringing together talent and international partners at cutting-edge facilities to unlock innovations that improve lives and strengthen our bioeconomy.” — Dr. Sylvain Charbonneau, President and CEO, Canada Foundation for Innovation
“Through GlycoNet, we’ve seen the value of a coordinated, pan-Canadian approach to advancing research and translating discoveries into practical applications. There is still tremendous potential for glycomics to deliver benefits across several sectors, and this roadmap provides a shared direction for turning that potential into impact. Now is the time to build on Canada’s strengths and ensure we continue to play a leading role as glycomics advances worldwide.” — Dr. Elizabeth Nanak, CEO, GlycoNet
“Glycomics adds an essential layer to our understanding of biology, revealing how complex sugars influence processes that genes and proteins alone cannot fully explain. Advances in analytical technologies are creating new opportunities to integrate glycomics into mainstream research and accelerate discoveries across health, agriculture, and biotechnology.” — Dr. Matthew Macauley, Associate Scientific Director, GlycoNet
About GlycoNet
GlycoNet is Canada’s national glycomics research and commercialization network, headquartered at the University of Alberta. Connecting more than 200 researchers across 37 institutions, GlycoNet advances research, innovation, and training to translate glycomics discoveries into solutions for health, agriculture, and the bioeconomy. Under the network, GlycoNet Integrated Services (GIS) operates as a national platform of glycomics services. GlycoNet is supported in part by the Government of Canada’s Strategic Science Fund and the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s Major Science Initiatives Fund.
Media Contact
Aalyssa Atley
Director of Communications, GlycoNet
[email protected]