The Government of Canada is supporting collaboration between industry and academia in an effort to bring more B.C.-made products to global markets.
Through the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada’s Regional Innovation Ecosystems program, federal minister Harjit Sajjan this week announced nearly $9 million in funding for two projects based out of the University of British Columbia.
“British Columbia is home to world-class academic institutions, including the University of British Columbia, that have a long history of helping businesses succeed,” stated Sajjan.
“Collaboration between academia and businesses is how we take great ideas and make them into products and services that the world demands,” the minister added.
UBC is receiving $5 million to establish the Biodevice Foundry. The Foundry will provide growing companies with lab space, specialized equipment and training programs to develop and test their products, such as artificial organs and joints, or life-saving drug therapies.
The university is also receiving over $3.8 million to establish a state-of-the-art Food and Beverage Innovation Centre. The world-class Centre will bring food science experts and businesses together to develop innovative packaging, processing techniques, and products, helping local processors become more competitive globally.
“These strategic PacifiCan investments in cutting-edge UBC research facilities will further enhance B.C.’s position as a leader in the agricultural and food/beverage industry as well as in the life sciences sector,” believes Benoit-Antoine Bacon, who serves as President and Vice-Chancellor of UBC.
“Both the Food and Beverage Innovation Centre and Biodevice Foundry will strengthen connections between university and industry partners,” Bacon continued, “and build the talent and collaborations that are needed to develop globally competitive ‘made in B.C.’ products and technologies.”
PacifiCan is a federal economic development agency dedicated to British Columbians.
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