Research projects to receive up to $136M funding in Atlantic Canada

Moncton, NB September 18, 2004 Fifty-four projects in Atlantic Canada have been selected for funding under the second round of the Atlantic Innovation Fund (AIF).

Up to C$136 million is being awarded to the research and development projects which have a total value of $291 million. (The project proponents are expected to leverage an additional $155 million in funding from a variety of private sector and public sector sources, including contributions from other national funding programs.)

"The Government of Canada’s investments through the Atlantic Innovation Fund are designed to help us achieve our goal of moving Canada from the 14th to the 5th most innovative nation in the world," said Allan Rock, Minister of Industry. "I warmly congratulate the 54 recipients who will be putting their ideas to work and helping to advance the country’s innovation agenda. I also congratulate ACOA on the tremendous efforts it is making in partnership with the region’s universities, research institutions and private enterprises in strengthening Atlantic Canada’s innovation capacity."

The selected projects represent a mix of private sector, university and community college initiatives throughout the region. They relate to a range of new and emerging sectors such as information technology, medical technology, ocean technology, environmental technology, aerospace, as well as traditional sectors such as transportation, forestry, mining and oil and gas.

The $300-million Atlantic Innovation Fund is a Government of Canada initiative administered by ACOA. Designed to build the economy of Atlantic Canada, it’s aim is to increase the region’s capacity to carry out leading-edge R&D that directly contributes to the development of new technology- based economic activity in the region. During the first round of the AIF, funding of $155 million was provided for 47 projects.

Details of some of the projects have been released, including the following 12:

1) Apex Industries, Moncton High velocity machining of monolithic structures

The project will research and develop production rules and techniques for the application of high velocity machining to the production of monolithic structures for the aircraft industry. The project, with total costs estimated at $12.4 million, will receive up to $5.5 million over five years.

2) Universit de Moncton Design and development of innovative thin film systems

The Universit de Moncton’s Thin Films and Photonics Research Group proposes to develop an electrochromic (EC) Smart Window system. The overall objective is to achieve a multi-layered thin film EC system that will be effective on small and large glass surfaces. The project, with total costs estimated at $3.4 million, will receive up to $2.7 million over five years.

3) Universit de Moncton – Shippagan campus New technology and services for shellfish industry

The Coastal Zones Research Institute (CZRI) is a non-profit consolidation of the three existing research centres on the Acadian Peninsula. The objective of the project is to strengthen the economic viability of shellfish culture, particularly oyster farming. CZRI will develop new marketable technologies and services from a variety of sub- projects. The project, with total costs estimated at $4.8 million, will receive up to $1.3 million over the duration of the project.

4) Universit de Moncton – Shippagan campus Commercialization of high pedigreed arctic char products

The Coastal Zones Research Institute will undertake a second project to develop Arctic Char through advanced genetic improvements to make it a commercially viable species for aquaculture production in Atlantic Canada. The project, with total costs estimated at $3.4 million, will receive up to $1.5 million over fivc years.

5) Flakeboard Company, St Stephen Resin application system

The project aims to develop a resin application system that will significantly reduce the amount of resin required in the manufacturing process. The project, with total costs estimated at $4.2 million, will receive up to $2.8 million over one year.

6) Centre for Nuclear Energy Research Development of instrumentation for prevention of corrosion of metals:

The project will develop and use new instrumentation and advanced industrial health monitoring computer systems to prevent the corrosion of metals. It is expected that the project will create 10 to 12 technical jobs as well as additional spin-off jobs. The project, with total estimated costs of $5.7 million will receive up to $4 million over five years.

7) University of New Brunswick (UNB) Beyond Kyoto: Atlantic sustainable R&D initiatives:

This project involves the development of sophisticated power controllers for sharing power automatically and the quality control of electricity produced by multiple network generators. The Environment and Sustainable Development Research Centre at UNB will partner with Memorial University of Newfoundland, Dalhousie University, Universit de Moncton, Custom Research, NB Power, Pivotal Power, Elliot Energy Systems, Turbowinds Canada, Atlantic Wind Test Site, and Eoletech. The project, with total estimated costs of $2.4 million will receive up to $1 million over five years.

8) University of New Brunswick Development of nanoparticle glass-fibre composites for dental posts:

This project involves developing a white glass-fibre post reinforced with nanoparticles that meets the functional, biological and aesthetic requirements of modern dentistry. Project collaborators include ElecTek Industrial Service and Dalhousie University. This project, with total estimated costs of $578,000, will receive up to $456,000 over five years.

9) University of New Brunswick Development of value-added fibre material

This project is expected to improve pulp and paper quality while improving efficiency. The project will be undertaken in co-operation with Nexfor of Edmundston, NB. The project, with total estimated costs of $1.8 million, will receive up to $938,000 over four years.

10) University of New Brunswick development of an advanced effluent treatment system for land-based aquaculture facilities

UNB’s Faculty of Engineering has proposed to develop an improved wastewater treatment system for land-based aquaculture facilities. This system will treat dilute sludge and address some environment concerns with the aquaculture industry. The project team includes researchers from Atlantech Engineering and Associates and Dalhousie University. The project has total estimated costs of $2 million, and will receive up to $1.4 million over three years. It will also create one post-doctoral fellow position and four graduate positions at UNB.

11) University of New Brunswick Novel bioreactor for wastewater treatment

This project proposes to research and develop a new biological wastewater treatment process for the treatment of biodegradable industrial wastewaters. ADI Systems will serve as an industrial partner in the project. The project, with total estimated costs of $1.4 million will receive up to $603,000 over five years.

12) UNB’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering Wireless ehealth devices for the rehabilitation field

This project proposes to research and develop motion analysis sensors and tools for use in health care and motion and performance analysis. Partners in the project include Measurand, the Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation, the Institute for Rehabilitation Research and Development in Ottawa and two orthopaedic surgeons. The project, with a total estimated cost of $3 million will receive up to $1.9 million over five years.