July 23, 2009, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), today announced a contribution to Chemaphor Inc. from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP).
The funding supports an innovative research and development project that will assist Chemaphor in developing high-tech biotechnology solutions for global markets.
"Our government is committed to building a competitive advantage for the Canadian private sector and supports these leading-edge technology solutions," said Minister Goodyear. "The Government of Canada is investing in science and technology to create jobs, strengthen the economy and improve Canadians’ quality of life."
Chemaphor is a biotechnology research innovator, developing and commercializing products for animal health, skin care, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and specialty chemical markets. The company was the first client to reside in NRC's Industry Partnership Facility in Charlottetown when it opened in 2007.
The $296,386 contribution from the Government of Canada will support Chemaphor in researching, developing and commercializing leading-edge technology that promotes better human and animal health.
"Investing in science and technology is critical for developing highly skilled people and improving the long-term competitiveness of Canadian firms," said NRC President Dr. Pierre Coulombe. "That's why NRC-IRAP is helping innovative Canadian businesses such as Chemaphor grow stronger, faster and bigger."
Meanwhile, Chemaphor is also being recognized as a Canadian Innovation Leader, linking scientific research to commercialization, jobs, and economic growth.
A Canadian Innovation Leader is a small- or medium-sized enterprise (SMEs) that demonstrates specific advances in research and development within its industrial sector. NRC created the Canadian Innovation Leader Certificate Program to recognize Canadian firms that have successfully developed and applied innovative technologies.
"NRC-IRAP is playing an important role in the success of our company," said David Hankinson, Chairman of the Board for Chemaphor. "The financial support we are receiving from NRC-IRAP will help us continue to innovate high-tech biotechnology solutions that benefit all Canadians."
The NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) provides a range of both technical and business-oriented advisory services along with necessary financial support to qualified innovative Canadian small- and medium-sized enterprises.
The program is delivered by a field staff of 240 professionals in more than 100 communities across Canada. NRC-IRAP is committed to working with small- and medium-sized enterprises while they realize their full potential, turning knowledge and innovation into strategic opportunities, jobs and prosperity for all Canadians.
The Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan has provided new resources of $200 million over the next two years to bolster NRC-IRAP support for innovative Canadian firms. To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
Backgrounder
National Research Council Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP)
NRC’s main outreach to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is through its Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) which provides support to innovative companies in Canada undertaking research and technology development projects for commercial purposes.
NRC-IRAP provides a range of both technical and business-oriented advisory services along with necessary financial support to qualified innovative Canadian SMEs. The program is delivered by a field staff of 240 business and technology experts in more than 100 communities across Canada. Working directly with SMEs, NRC-IRAP supports innovative research and development (R&D) and helps companies become commercialization-ready with their new products and services.
While the program operates three separate contribution programs — contribution to firms, contribution to organizations and a Youth Employment Program — NRC-IRAP’s main contribution component is in the form of a non-repayable contribution that reimburses the labour costs of a research and development project directly to firms.
Science at work for Canada
NRC-IRAP received an investment in Budget 2009, Canada’s Economic Action Plan, of $200 million over the next two years. This is new money. NRC-IRAP is committed to using this new funding to help the Government build a competitive advantage for Canada based on excellence in science and technology (S&T).
The funding includes $170 million to double NRC-IRAP’s contributions to firms and $30 million to help hire more than 1,000 new post-secondary graduates via its Youth Employment Program.
The budget commitment reinforces NRC-IRAP’s mandate to help SMEs take knowledge from the lab to the marketplace. The budget commitment also broadens NRC-IRAP’s ability to provide S&T expertise to SMEs. NRC-IRAP estimates that this new money will allow it to support approximately 1,400 additional SMEs over the next two years.
Canadian Innovation Leader (CIL) Certificate
A Canadian Innovation Leader is a small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) that demonstrated a specific advance in research and development within its industrial sector. This advance has contributed to the wealth of the country, either from a corporate growth perspective, job creation, or through a particular investment in research and development that has improved the lives of Canadians. NRC created the Canadian Innovation Leader (CIL) Certificate Program to recognize Canadian firms that have successfully developed and applied innovative technologies, linking scientific research to commercialization, jobs, and economic.
Chemaphor Inc.
Chemaphor Inc. is a biotechnology research innovator, developing and commercializing products for the animal health, skin care, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and specialty chemical markets.
The company’s lead product, OxBC, is a proprietary mixture of naturally occurring carotenoid compounds that work in harmony with immune systems to improve the health and well-being of animals and humans.
Global commercialization opportunities being pursued include innovating solutions for the companion-animal industry to collaborating with other private-sector partners to provide an alternative to antibiotics for improving productivity and reducing disease in livestock.
Although Chemaphor’s headquarters is in Ottawa, the company was the first client to reside in NRC's Industry Partnership Facility (IPF) in Charlottetown when it opened in 2007. The company still operates out of Charlottetown’s IPF today.
