17 January 2007
Antigonish, Nova Scotia
The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs
and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
(ACOA), today announced that Canada's New Government will
invest up to $3 million in a research and development
project at St. Francis Xavier University through ACOA's
Atlantic Innovation Fund (AIF). "Canada's New Government is committed to investing in
research and development to help build a competitive
economy in Atlantic Canada," Minister MacKay said. "The
Atlantic Innovation Fund has been the driving force behind
the increased R&D activity in Atlantic Canada, bringing
together universities, businesses and research institutions
to conduct world-class research right here in the region."
At a news conference in Antigonish this afternoon, Minister
MacKay announced that
St. Francis Xavier University will receive up to $3 million
in AIF funding to design software systems to be used for
the management of public health care cases, in partnership
with Medical Decision Logical Ltd. of Baltimore, Maryland,
and the Guysborough Antigonish Strait Health Authority.Target areas for the dynamic new software will include
hospice palliative care units and early childhood public
health programs. The total cost of the project is
estimated at $4.9 million.Earlier today in Halifax, Minister MacKay announced details
of eight other projects in Nova Scotia to receive AIF
funding. Together with the St. Francis Xavier University
project, the Nova Scotia-based projects will receive up to
$19.4 in AIF funding and have a total value of
approximately $29.5 million.The projects include the development of more energy-
efficient and long-lasting streetlights, instruments that
perform highly complex lab tests in minutes and a system to
provide maritime surveillance information to government and
commercial organizations worldwide. The projects bring together universities, businesses and
research institutions to conduct world-class research that,
once commercialized, has the potential to grow Atlantic
Canada's economy. ACOA's Atlantic Innovation Fund encourages research and
development in Atlantic Canada and has been an important
catalyst for many Atlantic Canadian businesses,
universities and research institutions. It has helped build
Atlantic Canada's reputation for innovation and, through
the success of the projects it has funded, has made
significant contributions to the region's research and
development and economic performance.
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For more information, contact:
David Harrigan
Senior Communications Officer
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
vHalifax, NS
902-426-4238
Diana Zandberg
Director of Communications, Policy and Programs
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Moncton, NB
506-851-2132
BACKGROUNDER
St. Francis Xavier University (Antigonish, NS)
Project: Dynamic Workflow SoftwareSt. Francis Xavier University, in partnership with Medical
Decision Logical Ltd. (MD Logix) of Baltimore, Maryland,
and the Guysborough Antigonish Strait Health Authority,
will design dynamic workflow software systems to be used
for public health care case management. Target areas will
include hospice palliative care units and early childhood
public health programs. This project builds on the strength of St. FX as an
economic driver in the Antigonish area. MD Logix will help
develop a university spin off company called NSLogix to
market MDLogix products in Canada, and be the conduit for
newly developed products into the United States. This
company has the potential to attract computer and health
care professionals to rural Nova Scotia.The project, with total estimated costs of $4.9 million,
will receive up to $3 million from the Atlantic Innovation
Fund over a five-year period.Comprehensive backgrounders on all of the selected NS-based
projects, along with additional backgrounders on all
selected Atlantic Canadian projects announced today, are
available on ACOA's website: www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca/MediaRoom
