Bright ideas get the spotlight in Nova Scotia

Halifax, NS – Local researchers who want to prove that their concepts can be turned into successful products and services are now eligible for support under a $275,000 early-stage funding program established by the Nova Scotia government.

The announcement follows a successful pilot project at Acadia University which is now being expanded to include all 11 of the province’s universities and the Nova Scotia Community College.

The early-stage commercialization fund is designed to support projects that promote the development of innovative services or prototypes that may provide commercial or socio-economic benefits to Nova Scotia.

While researchers’ needs can vary, many need only minimal funding to get a project with commercial potential off the ground. The program will make $30,000 available to each university that wishes to participate.

Researchers involved in the Acadia pilot project have begun to prove the concepts for six projects. Those projects are expected to demonstrate their full potential within the year. They include work that investigates recycling efficiency, athletic performance in selected sports, intelligent software for business applications, innovative educational products, and a device for use in biology and physics labs.

“Doing research with the specific objective of developing commercially viable products opens new possibilities for our faculty beyond their current research activities and creates learning opportunities for our students,” says Dr Gail Dinter-Gottlieb, president and vice-chancellor of Acadia.