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Innovation, Trade and Rural Development
October 20, 2010
Atlantic Canada to Welcome World's Leading
Life Sciences
Experts for Trade Biopartnering Initiative
Atlantic Canada's life sciences researchers
and entrepreneurs will welcome potential business and research partners
from around the world during inbound missions to the region this fall.
This trade building initiative, made possible with federal and
provincial financial assistance through the Canada/Atlantic Provinces
Agreement on International Business Development (IBDA), will see up to
36 international companies and organizations visit the region over the
next four months.
"Our government is committed to the growth of
Atlantic Canada's dynamic and innovative life sciences industry," said
the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of
the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and Minister for the
Atlantic Gateway. "We believe our contribution to this trade mission
will help promote global collaboration and attract foreign investment
for the economic benefit of all Atlantic Canadians."
"Newfoundland and Labrador's life sciences
sector is making impressive strides and is focused on increasing its
efforts in both research and commercialization," said the Honourable
Shawn Skinner, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development. "The
incoming delegation to the province in late-October will have the
opportunity to engage directly with representatives from this promising
sector, including meeting with companies and touring our research and
academic facilities. I'm hopeful that over the course of the mission new
business opportunities and relationships can be nurtured."
This international bio-partnering initiative
is being organized by BioNova, on behalf of the Atlantic Canada
BioIndustries Alliance. It builds on the strong results achieved by the
four Atlantic provinces during two previous inbound missions in 2008 and
2009. Activities include one-on-one business meetings, site tours,
educational sessions and networking receptions. These events are
designed to showcase Atlantic Canada's life sciences capabilities and to
form partnerships that can lead to new product development, licensing
agreements for intellectual property, research and development projects
and increased export sales.
Atlantic Canada's life sciences industry
comprises over 100 companies and thousands of employees who are at the
forefront of global research in human health, medical technologies and
diagnostics, marine biology, vaccine diagnostics, pharmaceuticals and
therapeutics, animal and fish health products, and agricultural
technology. The industry has strong growth potential, with both sales
and employment figures expected to increase significantly over the next
five years.
"The Biopartnering Mission gives the region's
life sciences community a unique opportunity to showcase its
capabilities here, at home," said Marli MacNeil, CEO of BioNova, Nova
Scotia's life sciences association. "Previous inbound missions have
proven that export sales and international research collaborations
result from this kind of exposure to Atlantic Canada's technological and
industrial excellence. We expect the same to occur in 2010."
In Newfoundland and Labrador, the incoming
mission will take place from October 27 to 28. C ompanies
and organizations from Newfoundland and Labrador participating in the
2010 Incoming BioPartnering trade mission include:
Genesis Centre (St. John's), ICUS (St. John's),
North Atlantic Bio Pharma Inc.
(St. John's),
North Atlantic Technology Specialists (St. John's), and Sedna
Nutraceuticals Inc. (Whitbourne).
A total of $166,927 in
funding for the inbound
trade mission is being provided through the IBDA.
The IBDA is a federal/provincial agreement between the
Government of Canada (ACOA, Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Canada, and Industry Canada) and the four provincial governments in
Atlantic Canada, and is designed to help
Atlantic Canadian businesses enter, explore and succeed in international
markets. The
IBDA is the leading component of a pan-Atlantic effort to foster
business relations, attract foreign investment and nurture technological
co-operation.
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Media contacts:
2010 10 20
10:35 a.m.
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