Saguenay, Quebec, July 10, 2009 – The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, today announced the awarding of $1,632,469 in non-repayable funding to ÉCOGÈNE TECHNOLOGIES for the acquisition of leading-edge equipment that will enable the organization to invest in innovation and increase its competitive advantages. This knowledge-economy project, which will help promote the region’s expertise in the field of genomics, will require an overall investment of $2,039,375 and lead to the creation of 24 highly-skilled jobs.
“The specialization that ÉCOGÈNE TECHNOLOGIES has developed highlights the key role that innovation, research and development and, in a more general sense, science and technology play in the growth of the economy, employment and prosperity. Through the economic action plan we adopted this past January, the Government of Canada has called for an unprecedented $5.1 billion investment in support of projects in these sectors. This measure promises to, among other things, stimulate research in Canada and create sustainable economic opportunities,” explained the Minister of State.
The acquisition of leading-edge equipment will enable ÉCOGÈNE TECHNOLOGIES to pursue its growth and extend its reach and influence. The organization also intends to conduct clinical trials in collaboration with the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries and use the findings to develop new technologies, procedures and knowledge in the health field that will translate into the international commercialization of inventions and the establishment of new companies in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region. ÉCOGÈNE TECHNOLOGIES will thereby be better positioned to enter into partnerships and to bring new medications and biotechnological innovations to the market.
The mission of ÉCOGÈNE TECHNOLOGIES is to develop, test and apply new technologies and knowledge in the field of genomics. The organization’s main focus is on the health of humankind as a community, its environment and immediate ecosystem, in other words the environment in which humans and other species cohabitate.
For more on Canada’s Economic Action Plan, see www.actionplan.gc.ca.
-30-
Sources:
Nadia Marceau
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel..: 418-668-4602 or 1-800-463-9808
Cell: 418-321-0295
E-mail: nadia.marceau@dec-ced.gc.ca
Stéphanie Desforges
Senior Special Assistant, Communications
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Cell: 514-496-1282
E-mail: stephanie.desforges@dec-ced.gc.ca
