November 10, 2009
Calgary, Alberta
New centres to accelerate development of innovative medical technology – helping patients, improving health care and diversifying the Alberta economy
Alberta’s thriving biomedical engineering industry is reaching new heights thanks to a major initiative to boost research and translate new technology into commercial products for the global marketplace launched today at the University of Calgary.
Federal and provincial governments, research funding agencies and the University of Calgary are partnering to create two new centres to foster innovation and commercialization of biomedical technologies. A provincial investment worth $7.4 million will establish the Biovantage - Alberta Ingenuity Centre to tackle real-world medical problems to deliver biomedical technologies through collaboration with researchers, business people and clinicians. In addition, a combined investment of $7.3 million from the University of Calgary and the Canada-Alberta Western Economic Partnership Agreement will establish a second centre, the Bose Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Technology Development Centre. This new centre will take research to the next level by combining specialized industry expertise and state-of-the-art infrastructure to focus on innovation and product development.
“Our outstanding biomedical research community is what attracts industry to our province,
” said Doug Horner, Minister of Advanced Education and Technology. “These new centres add to our pan-Alberta efforts to build up an even stronger biomedical community with global reach. Alberta has shown that it can form the kinds of solid partnerships with governments, industry and post-secondary institutions that are needed to bring technologies to international markets.
”
“Technology commercialization is a key driver of Canada's competitiveness and prosperity and is at the heart of diversifying the Western Canadian economies,
” said the Honourable Diane Ablonczy, Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification Canada. “Through the strategic combination of technology development and entrepreneurship, this initiative at the University of Calgary will contribute to strengthening our ability to compete in global markets.
”
“Bose Corporation shares a common commitment with the University of Calgary to improve people’s lives through research and innovation,
” said Dave Thomas, Vice President of Corporate Research and Development at Bose Corporation. “Our ElectroForce test instruments provide true advancements in medical device testing. They’ll be used in the new Centre to help accelerate the development and commercialization of biomedical devices in order to prevent, diagnose and treat illnesses. We are proud to be part of this initiative to take medical technology to new levels.
”
“Biomedical engineering is a high-priority area for the University of Calgary and these new centres will ensure that our research translates into products and services that will improve our quality of life and stimulate the economy,
” said University of Calgary President Harvey Weingarten. “They also provide a significant educational opportunity for our students and researchers to think creatively and develop devices for a more efficient and effective health care system.
”
These new centres aim to develop technologies and better treatment methods in many areas such as stroke, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, osteoporosis, and heart disease. The incidence of these chronic medical conditions is increasing as the world’s population ages. These centres will enable collaboration from across many disciplines including engineering, medicine, kinesiology, science, nursing and veterinary medicine. They will also attract the interest of internationally recognized corporations like the Bose Corporation and hold potential for developing new innovative and non-invasive technologies for treatment of these diseases.
Media inquiries may be directed to:
Alberta Advanced Education and Technology
Marie Cusack
Communications
780-427-0038
(To call toll-free within Alberta dial 310-0000.)
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Donna Kinley
Communications
780-495-6892
Cell: 780-991-7432
University of Calgary
Grady Semmens
Media Relations
403-220-7722
Bose Corporation
Joanne Berthiaume
Public Relations
508-766-7882
WD Toll-Free Number:1 888 338-WEST (9378)
Teletypewriter (TTY): 1 877 303-3388
Website: WD is online at www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
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Backgrounder
More information about the centres, funding and collaborators
1) Biovantage - Alberta Ingenuity Centre
Biovantage will apply good science and good business principles to identify ideas for biomedical technologies with the greatest potential to reach the market, and provide strategic funding and project management to get the best ideas to commercialization faster. The Centre will also provide a forum for training in business and entrepreneurship. In addition to research training, it will work with Alberta's biomedical companies to identify and establish the support system that will help to develop a biomedical industry cluster in the province. It is the third Alberta Ingenuity Centre to be based at the University of Calgary, in addition to the Alberta Ingenuity Centre for In-Situ Energy and the Tecterra centre for integrated resource management.
2) Bose Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Technology Development Centre
The Bose Centre will focus in the areas of biomaterials and tissue engineering. Outfitted with advanced materials testing and durability simulation instruments from the ElectroForce Systems Group of Bose Corporation, the Bose Centre will enable Alberta’s biomedical engineering industry to pursue the development, testing and commercialization of biomedical applications geared towards health care diagnostics, monitoring and evaluation.
This project with the University of Calgary is one of the first to receive funding through the current Canada-Alberta Western Economic Partnership Agreement (WEPA) and demonstrates the successful partnership aspect of WEPA. Through this agreement, Canada and Alberta are jointly contributing $50 million over four years on a number of projects to strengthen economic activity and improve quality of life in Alberta communities.
Funding over five years
| |
Biovantage - Alberta
Ingenuity Centre
(millions) |
Bose Biomaterials and
Tissue Engineering
Technology
Development Centre
(millions) |
Total funding for
both centres
(millions) |
| Alberta Government:
- Alberta Ingenuity Fund
- Advanced Education and Technology |
$7.4 |
$0.8 (WEPA)*
$1.0 (WEPA)*
|
$8.2
$1.0
|
| Western Economic Diversification Canada |
|
$4.2 (WEPA)* |
$4.2 |
| University of Calgary |
|
$1.3 |
$1.3 |
| TOTALS |
$7.4 |
$7.3 |
$14.7 |
* WEPA refers to provincial and federal funding contributions under the current Canada-Alberta Western Economic Partnership Agreement.
Project collaborators
Alberta Advanced Education and Technology
Investing in science and technology today is critical to ensure prosperity and a high quality of life tomorrow. Alberta Advanced Education and Technology focuses on the application of science and research and the innovative use of technology to shape the future of the province.
Alberta Ingenuity Fund
The Alberta Ingenuity Fund was established to develop internationally competitive science and engineering expertise and build greater capacity for innovation, particularly in areas with lasting social and economic impact.
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Western Economic Diversification Canada works with the provinces, industry associations and communities to promote the development and diversification of the western economy, coordinates federal economic activities in the West and represents the interests of western Canadians in national decision making.
University of Calgary, Centre for Bioengineering Research and Education in the Schulich School of Engineering
The University of Calgary supports biomedical engineering as one of the highest priority areas of research. Lead partners for this project include the Schulich School of Engineering Centre for Bioengineering Research and Education, which is a unique multidisciplinary collaboration between the faculties of engineering and kinesiology, and the faculty of medicine. Key research partners from many other faculties will participate, including science, veterinary medicine, and nursing. This field of multidisciplinary research is playing an increased role in the delivery and assessment of health care.
Electroforce® Systems Group of Bose Corporation
The ElectroForce Systems Group of Bose Corporation is a leading supplier of materials testing and durability simulation instruments to research institutions, universities, medical device companies and engineering companies worldwide. Since 1999, Bose Corporation has supplied its proprietary linear motors for dynamic testing systems, establishing a new standard in performance. Today, ElectroForce test instruments provide exceptional fidelity and precision for a variety of testing applications, including characterization of engineered materials, soft tissue and biomaterials, fatigue testing of components used in industrial and consumer applications, and durability simulation of medical devices, including stents, endovascular grafts and orthopedic implants.
