Governments Invest More Than $4.9 Million in Innovative Projects in Newfoundland and Labrador
News Release
Investments target opportunities to develop and commercialize new technologies
May 12, 2017– St. John’s, NL – Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Innovation research being undertaken at Memorial University will help improve water quality testing and will further advanced technology in the area of holographics. Investments from the federal and provincial governments will support research projects taking place at the Department of Chemistry and technology being developed by Avalon Holographics, a company located within Memorial’s Genesis Centre.
The Government of Canada is contributing more than $4.4 million through ACOA and the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) for these projects. The provincial government, through the Research & Development Corporation (RDC), is contributing $498,650 towards these initiatives.
The federal funding was announced today by Nick Whalen, Member of Parliament for St. John’s East, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). Provincial funding was announced by Bernard Davis, Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Community Services, on behalf of the Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, provincial Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation and Minister Responsible for the Research & Development Corporation.
The investment from ACOA is provided through the Atlantic Innovation Fund, which encourages partnerships among private sector firms, universities, colleges and other research institutions to develop and commercialize new or improved products and services.
Canada’s Innovation and Skills Plan aims to make this country a global centre for innovation—one that creates jobs, drives growth across all industries and improves the lives of all Canadians. Investments in these projects demonstrate the Government of Canada’s new approach to economic development through innovation.
Over the next five years, all six regional development agencies across Canada, including ACOA, will invest a total of $1.5 billion to strengthen innovation capacity and economic growth in each region. Part of these investments will go towards supporting projects such as those announced today, that are adopting new technologies to boost innovation capacity and competitiveness.
Project Description
Avalon Holographics Inc., St. John’s
ACOA assistance: $3 million (AIF Conditionally Repayable)
National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program assistance: $497,000
Research & Development Corporation assistance: $250,000
Total Project Costs: $5 million
Avalon Holographics Inc. is a client at Memorial University’s Genesis Centre. Through this project, the company plans to develop a holographic display screen to provide a true three dimensional view of images. The company will undertake research and development to create an organic light-emitting diode display. Markets for this product include the gaming industry and other industry and consumer markets.
Memorial University, St. John’s
ACOA assistance: $935,890 (AIF Non-Repayable)
Research & Development Corporation assistance: $248,400
Total Project Costs: $1.6 million
Researchers at Memorial University’s Department of Chemistry will develop devices containing smart thin films made from molecularly imprinted polymers to test for water contaminants. The devices will be a cost-effective clean technology since they effectively eliminate the need for large volume water sample collection. This technology has the potential to benefit municipal and industrial waterworks operations as well as oil and gas operations in harsh environments.
ACOA’s Innovation Programming
ACOA’s innovation programming, which includes the Atlantic Innovation Fund and the Business Development Program, responds to the evolving needs of Atlantic businesses and researchers. The programs also provide support to small and medium-sized enterprises across the region to acquire or adapt innovative technologies that can improve their productivity and competitiveness, while also enabling them to build the skills they need to innovate and compete in today’s global economy.
Quotes
“Innovation is key to Canada’s economic success because it fosters inclusive growth, a thriving middle class and new economic, social and environmental opportunities for all Canadians. Our government’s Innovation and Skills Plan focuses on talent, technologies and scaling-up firms – an approach that is essential in shaping our future. That is why the Government of Canada is committed to supporting projects like these, which support innovation in areas such as clean technology and holographics.”
The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA“Newfoundland and Labrador is fortunate to have dynamic and innovative researchers and businesses developing specialized technologies which are in demand around the world. The Government of Canada is investing in local companies and research initiatives such as the ones announced today, as part of our plan to make Canada a global centre of innovation, which will create middle-class jobs and drive growth across all industries.”
Nick Whalen, MP for St. John’s East“The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to providing businesses and researchers with opportunities to develop their products and technologies and market them across the globe. By investing in projects like these, we are driving technological advancements in emerging industries in order to diversify and grow our economy.”
The Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation and Minister Responsible for the Research & Development Corporation
“The projects announced today demonstrate that researchers and businesses in Newfoundland and Labrador are developing technologies in response to present day local and global demands. Through strategic investments such as these, RDC is supporting opportunities to advance solutions in thriving new industries and strengthen the province’s position as a global competitor.”
Mark Ploughman, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Research & Development Corporation
“Through the ground-breaking research and development led by our faculty and students, and through Genesis Centre’s commitment to high-growth technology startups, Memorial plays a significant role in cultivating and mobilizing the talent needed to enhance innovation in Newfoundland and Labrador. Today’s federal and provincial support enables the university to positively contribute to the diversification and growth of our economy. I thank both levels of government for their continued investments in Memorial.”
Dr. Gary Kachanoski, President and Vice-Chancellor, Memorial University
Quick Facts
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ACOA’s innovation programming, which includes the Atlantic Innovation Fund (AIF) and the Business Development Program (BDP), is designed to help bring to market new products, technologies and services that will improve the competitiveness and productivity of the Atlantic economy.
In 2016, the Government of Canada, through ACOA’s AIF, invested more than $35 million in 20 innovation and R&D projects in the Atlantic region.
The National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) supports small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in all industries – helping them grow through the development and commercialization of innovative technologies. IRAP provides customized technical and business advisory services, financial assistance and networking and linkage opportunities. It is a vital component of the NRC and is a cornerstone of Canada's innovation system.
RDC is a provincial Crown Corporation established to strengthen the focus, quantity, quality, and relevance of R&D for the long-term economic benefit of Newfoundland and Labrador. In 2016-17, RDC invested over $15.9 million in 128 academic and business R&D projects.
Contacts
Paul McGrath
Director, Communications
ACOA NL
709-772-2984
paul.mcgrath@canada.ca
Eric Humber
Media Relations Manager
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
709-729-4819, 725-9655
erichumber@gov.nl.ca
Ashley Russell
Marketing and Communications Specialist
Research & Development Corporation
709-758-0308, 730-4079
ashleyrussell@rdc.org
Wally Haas
President
Avalon Holographics Inc.
709- 864-3169
wally.haas@avalonholographics.com
Moira Baird
Senior Communications Advisor
Memorial University
709-864-4073
mc.baird@mun.ca