$63M supports R&D projects in Atlantic Canada

Halifax, NS – Research and development in Atlantic Canada is receiving a boost from federal funding of up to $63 million under Round V of the Atlantic Innovation Fund (AIF) for 29 projects across the region.

With a total project value of approximately $126.8 million, proponents are expected to leverage an additional $63.8 million in funding from a variety of private and public sector sources.

Today, 21 of the 29 projects were announced today.

Projects selected for funding in New Brunswick in this round include:

– AL-PACK Enterprises (Moncton) Project: Production of Biodegradable Bags and Food Packaging In collaboration with the University of New Brunswick, AL-PACK Enterprises Limited will develop and commercialize new starch-based, biodegradable materials to be used in shopping bags, compost bags and food packaging. This project, with total estimated costs of approximately $2.2 million, will receive up to $1.5 million from the Atlantic Innovation Fund over a three-year period.

– Atcon Plywood (Miramichi) Project: Engineering a New Generation of Technologies to Remain Competitive in the Wood Industry Atcon Plywood Inc. will work with scientists from the University of New Brunswick to adapt novel robotic technology to create more efficient and competitive manufacturing processes for plywood. This project, with total estimated costs of approximately $3.9 million, will receive up to $2.7 million from the Atlantic Innovation Fund over a three-year period.

– Cooke Aquaculture (Blacks Harbour) Project: Aquaculture Stock Traceability Cooke Aquaculture Inc. will work with researchers at the Research and Productivity Council to develop an innovative DNA-based traceability system to track individual Atlantic salmon from “farm-to-fork” within a commercial aquaculture operation. Fish traceability is important given growing public concerns about food safety, new regulatory requirements and increasingly competitive markets. This project, with total estimated costs of approximately $2.8 million, will receive up to $1.9 million from the Atlantic Innovation Fund over a four-year period.

– Hydroprocessing Laboratory – University of New Brunswick (Fredericton) Project: Innovative Technologies for Production of Ultraclean Diesel The University of New Brunswick’s Hydroprocessing Laboratory specializes in fuel analysis, catalyst synthesis and characterization. This project will develop technologies to produce high quality ultraclean petro diesel and reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from biodiesel. This project, with total estimated costs of approximately $2.3 million, will receive up to $1.3 million from the Atlantic Innovation Fund over a five-year period.

– Magnetic Resonance Imaging Centre – University of New Brunswick (Fredericton) Project: Next Generation Magnetic Resonance Measurements for Petroleum Reservoir Core Analysis The Magnetic Resonance Imaging Centre at the University of New Brunswick has earned an international reputation for excellence in developing new MRI methods to analyze petroleum core samples. In collaboration with Saudi Aramco, the largest oil company in the world, and Green Imaging Technologies of New Brunswick, UNB researchers will develop measurement techniques for petroleum core analysis that are faster, more precise and more economical than current methods. This project, with total estimated costs of approximately $3.7 million, will receive up to $2.1 million from the Atlantic Innovation Fund over a five-year period.

– Universit de Moncton (Moncton) Project: Development of Dietary Products from Bio-Resources This project, led by Dr. Marc Surette, Canada Research Chair in Cellular Lipid Metabolism at the Universit de Moncton, will research new processes for the production of plant seed oils for the commercial production of biopeptides derived from seafood processing discards. This project, with total estimated costs of approximately $4.1 million, will receive up to $3 million from the Atlantic Innovation Fund over a five-year period.

Projects selected for funding in Nova Scotia in this round include:

– Dalhousie University (Halifax) Project: Device for Monitoring Lung Function Researchers at Dalhousie University will develop and commercialize a new medical device for the diagnosis and monitoring of lung function in a wide-range of patients with lung disease. This bio-medical engineering project will attract highly skilled personnel to the region and create manufacturing opportunities for Canadian industry. This project, with total estimated costs of $3.2 million, will receive up to $2 million from the Atlantic Innovation Fund over a five-year period.

– Saint Francis Xavier University (Antigonish) Project: Identifying Potential for Alternate Energy This project team, which includes researchers in Spain, will study the long-term development capacity for geothermal and wind energy in Atlantic Canada. This research is unprecedented in Atlantic Canada as it will help determine not only the amount of wind and geothermal energy available, but the optimal level of development that preserves environmental quality. This project will help address the rising cost of conventional energy sources. This project, with total estimated costs of $2.5 million, will receive up to $1.8 million from the Atlantic Innovation Fund over a five-year period.

– Capital Health District Authority (Halifax) Project: Diagnostic Tool for Orthopedic Implants The Capital Health District Authority will work with its industrial partner, Halifax Biomedical, to develop a diagnostic tool that will provide orthopedic surgeons with information to better treat and manage patients after an operation. The project has the potential to improve health care delivery and reduce wait times by allowing the surgeons to concentrate on the patients with problem implants. This project, with total estimated costs of $4.7 million, will receive up to $2.7 million from the Atlantic Innovation Fund over a five-year period.

– ImmunoVaccine Technologies (Halifax) Project: Development of Core Vaccine Formulations This project will focus on the development of core vaccine formulations for a variety of human health vaccines. The new formulations are expected to provide innovative treatments for cancer and stronger, longer lasting immune responses so re-immunization may not be required. This project, with total estimated costs of $6 million, will receive up to $3 million from the Atlantic Innovation Fund over a three-year period.

– Nova Scotia Agricultural College (Truro) Project: Revitalization of Fruit Tree Industry The Nova Scotia Agricultural College will lead a research project designed to revitalize the rural-based fruit industry in Nova Scotia and the Atlantic region. The project is expected to result in “green” manufacturing technologies and new product lines that will be commercialized by private sector partners. This project, with total estimated costs of $3.1 million, will receive up to $1.9 million from the Atlantic Innovation Fund over a five-year period.

– METOCEAN Data Systems (Dartmouth) Project: Project Neptune – Development of a Design of Ocean Subsurface Profiling Instrument METOCEAN Data Systems will research and develop a new ocean subsurface profiling instrument that can be launched from planes or helicopters and used in a variety of fields from oceanography to weather forecasting. This research project represents tremendous potential, including the expansion of the local research community and the potential for creating new technical jobs in Atlantic Canada. This project, with total estimated costs of $2 million, will receive up to $1.3 million from the Atlantic Innovation Fund over a three- year period.

– Nova Scotia Community College (Middleton) Project: Tool for Managing Watershed Quality The Centre of Geographic Science at the Nova Scotia Community College will lead a project team of researchers and private sector partners to develop and commercialize a suite of technology products, processes and services for the environ
mental assessment and management of watershed quality. The project will enhance the region’s applied research capacity and expertise and will help attract national and international business and private investment to Annapolis County in rural Nova Scotia. This project, with total estimated costs of $5 million, will receive up to $3 million from the Atlantic Innovation Fund over a five- year period.

– Acadian Seaplants (Dartmouth) Project: Development of New Seaweed Food Products Acadian Seaplants will develop and commercialize two new seaweed food products for the Japanese export market and develop methods for the rapid screening of potential species suitable for its land-based cultivation operation in Charlesville, Nova Scotia. The economic benefits of this project will include partnerships and linkages between industry and research institutions across the Atlantic provinces. This project, with total estimated costs of $2.3 million, will receive up to $1.7 million from the Atlantic Innovation Fund over a three-year period.

Projects selected for funding in Prince Edward Island in this round include:
– BioVectra (Charlottetown, PEI) Project: Evaluation and Development of New Drug Compounds BioVectra Inc. will create a system to select and produce ingredients for the development of new prescription drugs. The project, with total costs of approximately $5.5 million, will receive up to $3 million from the Atlantic Innovation Fund over a three-year period.

– Cogsdale Corporation (Charlottetown, PEI) Project: Development of a Land Management System Cogsdale Coporation will develop commercially-viable, land- use planning and community development software that will aid governments and utilities run their operations more efficiently. Cogsdale Corporation currently employs 53 technology professionals. The project, with total costs of approximately $2.4 million, will receive up to $1.7 million from the Atlantic Innovation Fund over a three-year period.

– DeltaWare Systems (Charlottetown, PEI) Project: Re-architecting and Embedding of e-Health Technology DeltaWare Systems Inc. will increase the user-friendliness and reliability of their e-health program, Medigent. The project will allow the company to expand its client base to more health care providers in Canada and around the world, as well as hire new software developers and technical advisors. The project, with total costs of approximately $3.1 million, will receive up to $1.8 million from the Atlantic Innovation Fund over a three-year period.

– First Venture Technologies (Charlottetown, PEI) Project: Development of a Yeast Transformation System for Fermented Beverages In conjunction with the PEI Food Technology Centre, First Venture Technologies will research and develop new strains of yeast which will reduce or remove a naturally-occurring carcinogen from fermented beverages, such as sake and wine, making them safer for consumption. The staff will comprise a five-member scientific team located at the National Research Council’s Institute of Nutrisciences and Health. The project, with total costs of approximately $2.6 million, will receive up to $1.8 million from the Atlantic Innovation Fund over a four-year period.

– Novartis Animal Health Canada (Victoria, PEI) Project: Development of an Improved Vaccine for Infectious Salmon Anemia Norvartis Animal Health Canada Inc. will pursue research to reduce the outbreaks of the infectious salmon anemia virus among farmed fish in aquaculture facilities. The work is critical to the Atlantic aquaculture industry as direct losses attributed to the virus were an estimated $80 million in 2006. The project, with total costs of approximately $2.8 million, will receive up to $1.7 million from the Atlantic Innovation Fund over a four-year period.

– University of Prince Edward Island Atlantic Veterinary College (Charlottetown, PEI) Project: Atlantic Lobster Moult and Quality The Lobster Science Centre, located at the University of Prince Edward Island’s Atlantic Veterinary College, will apply the principles of veterinary medicine to the wild lobster fishery of southwestern Nova Scotia and the Northumberland Strait to gather information on the life cycle of the lobster including health, reproduction and moulting. The project aims to advance scientific knowledge related to lobster health and life cycles in an effort to promote the sustainability of the Atlantic Canadian lobster industry. The project, with total costs of approximately $4.4 million, will receive up to $2.4 million from the Atlantic Innovation Fund over a five-year period.

– University of Prince Edward Island (Charlottetown, PEI) Project: Development of Integrated Biophotonics Platform for Cancer Therapy The University of Prince Edward Island will research and develop minimally invasive cancer treatment technologies that use light and sound and are able to eradicate solid tumours without causing harm to adjacent healthy tissues. Initial efforts will focus on prostate cancer. The project will be staffed by five highly-qualified researchers and several technical assistants. The project, with total costs of approximately $3.8 million, will receive up to $2 million from the Atlantic Innovation Fund over a five-year period.