BTSC bringing top-notch bioproduct research and technology to the region
March 19, 2015 – Grand Falls, NB – Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
CCNB-Edmundston/Grand Falls’ Biorefinery Technology Scale-up Centre (BTSC) is changing the face of research in the Northwest, by serving as a link between science and industry. The Centre brings experts in research and innovation directly to the area’s key industry and primary sectors, providing access to state-of-the-art research and technology, and enhanced commercial market capacity, while helping to build solid and sustainable economic growth for the region.
The Honourable Rob Moore, Regional Minister for New Brunswick and Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency), and Mike Allen, Member of Parliament for Tobique-Mactaquac, today joined the Centre’s top researchers and officials to tour the site and learn about the organization’s cutting-edge technology.
Participants in today’s site visit included key researchers and technicians, many of whom have relocated to the region because of the Centre’s activities: Josée Landry, Manager; Sylvain Poirier, Executive Director Centre of Excellence in Agricultural and Biotechnological Sciences; researchers Mike Doucette, François Chabot and Kevin Shiell, as well as Industry Liaison officer Joey Volpé.
Highlights of today’s visit included an overview of the services and areas of expertise offered by BTSC; a site tour of its labs showcasing its fermentation processes and wood pretreatment equipment; a demonstration of the pilot-scale biodiesel system for production of diesel from a wide variety of oil products, as well as a demonstration of the Centre’s mobile pilot-scale biogas system for the production of gas from agricultural waste and other organic biomass at the Laforge Bioenvironmental site.
These mobile units are designed to allow the Centre to evaluate various industrial inputs that can be used to make biofuels and biochemicals. Since ACOA’s investment for specialized equipment in 2012, the Centre has generated significant results including 65 research projects initiated; seven new products, services and processes being commercialized, and 39 new partnerships established.
Quick Facts:
- The creation of the Biorefinery Technology Scale-Up Centre (BTSC) has markedly increased New Brunswick’s applied research capacity in the fermentation and bioenergy sectors. The Centre also fills a unique research and market gap in Atlantic Canada between the laboratory scale development of biorefinery technologies and the production scale required for successful adoption by local industries, which helps to reduce risks related to commercialization.
- The BTSC is unique to the region and this facility is adding to the capacity of institutions and SMEs with respect to research and development, and commercialization.
- The Centre also serves to support biomass energy and bioscience start SMEs that require pilot-scale equipment and applied research facilities. Examples of Atlantic bioenergy and bioproduct companies assisted by the existing lab are: Laforge Holsteins-Laforge Bioenvironmental (Saint-André, NB); Atlantic BioEnergy Corporation (PEI); MyCoDev Inc. (Fredericton, NB); Milco Enterprises-Ethanol (Scoudouc, NB); and L’Érablière Denis Côté inc., (Saint-Quentin, NB)
- In September 2012, the Government of Canada contributed $857,466 through ACOA’s Innovative Communities Fund to help the Centre purchase new equipment and systems to support research and development activities.
Quotes:
“Our Government is committed to pursuing research and innovation projects that can build on our assets; leverage our world-class researchers and research infrastructure, while supporting our industries to boost productivity, increase their global competitive edge, and create an even stronger, and more sustainable economy. By supporting the Biorefinery Technology Scale-Up Centre, we are working with an organization that continues to focus its efforts on research, innovation and business excellence, creating and sustaining jobs for New Brunswickers and contributing to the economic growth of this community and region.”
- The Honourable Rob Moore, Regional Minister for New Brunswick and Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)
“Our Government recognizes the importance of supporting community projects like this one that help our small and medium businesses become more innovative. Having the ability to develop new processes and technologies and access to the quality services that the Centre provides right here in our region is something to be proud of. It is through projects like this one that we are creating the right conditions for this region to thrive.”
- Mike Allen, Member of Parliament for Tobique-Mactaquac
“The Centre's mandate is to help small and medium-sized enterprises to innovate in the bioprocessing sector, and the support from federal and provincial funding agencies is key to delivering high quality services in emerging technologies.”
- Josée Landry, Manager, CCNB-Edmundston/Grand Falls’ Biorefinery Technology Scale-Up Centre
Associated Links:
Contacts:
Kelsie Corey
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Rob Moore
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
613-941-7241
Ann Kenney
Senior Communications Officer
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
506-452-3687
Josée Landry
Manager
Biorefinery Technology Scale-up Centre
506-475-2424
