April 15, 2005 Campbellton, New Brunswick The Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick - Campus de Campbellton is launching the Applied Research and Innovation Service as a new component of the Atlantic Canada Woodworking Centre of Excellence (WCE). The new Service will provide local businesses with support in conducting applied research aimed at developing new products and processes in the secondary and tertiary hardwood processing sector. "The Government of Canada is very proud to contribute to the establishment of this applied research and innovation service," said Jean-Claude D'Amours, MP for Madawaska- Restigouche, speaking on behalf of the Honourable Joseph McGuire, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. "This new service will benefit the entire Atlantic Canada region and position Northern New Brunswick as a centre of excellence for applied research and innovation in hardwood products. Applied research is essential to the development of this industry and the new service will allow us to further develop one of our greatest natural resources¿ the forest." "The Restigouche business community, through Enterprise Restigouche and its community economic development strategy, has identified the WCE as champion in the value- added wood products strategic direction," noted Rachel Arseneau-Ferguson, Director of the CCNB - Campus de Campbellton. "The new applied research and innovation service will allow the WCE to fully play its role as industry partner by conducting research and innovation while continuing to train highly qualified human resources." This service is being introduced in response to the industry's need to constantly be on the cutting edge, in order to take advantage of business opportunities. By providing access to tools for both applied research & development as well as product marketing, the WCE will enable companies to benefit from technological advances and help the industry maintain and enhance its competitiveness through innovation. The new WCE service package will include technical assistance (prototyping, pre-production and equipment trials), technology monitoring and transfer, information dissemination as well as consultation. A resource centre for companies will also be provided. The WCE thus enhances the range of services available to industry by developing an expertise that complements the support offered by the New Brunswick value-added wood products consortium, which, besides the WCE, includes the Wood Products Group, Forintek Canada Inc., the UNB Wood Science and Technology Centre, ACOA and Business New Brunswick. The introduction of this new service is in keeping with the 2004-2007 Restigouche Community Economic Development Strategy developed by Enterprise Restigouche and its partners. ACOA has invested $1,250,095 in the CCNB - Campus de Campbellton WCE for the creation of the Applied Research and Innovation Service. The contribution is from the Agency's Strategic Community Investment Fund (SCIF). The SCIF was created to support strategic initiatives that contribute to community economic development in Atlantic Canada. Its purpose is to help communities create opportunities for economic development that will stimulate employment and attract investments. The SCIF is a component of the Atlantic Investment Partnership (AIP). For more information on ACOA programs, visit the Agency's Website at www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca. New Brunswick's value-added wood products industry includes about 275 companies with combined annual sales of close to a billion dollars. These companies employ more than 6,800 people and pay over $170 million in wages and benefits. They are, for the most part, small family businesses that have been operating for close to 15 years. - 30 - Valérie Poulin Director of Communications Office of the Honourable Joseph McGuire Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (613) 941-7241 Nadya Ladouceur Communications Officer ACOA NB (506) 451-2677 Suzanne Beaudoin Communications Officer Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick - Campus de Campbellton (506) 789-2446
