June 22, 2012
Atlantic Businesses Seek New Market Opportunities
at World’s Largest Biotechnology Convention
A delegation of 24 biotechnology companies and organizations from Atlantic Canada has returned from the 2012 BIO International Convention, the largest global event for the biotechnology industry. The convention took place June 18-21 in Boston, Massachusetts.
“Canada's long-term economic competitiveness depends on supporting businesses that create jobs, growth and prosperity, and reach out to new markets around the world,” said the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and La Francophonie. “Our government understands the importance of trade to our economy. Trade accounts for one out of every five jobs in Canada. Connections made at high profile international events like this one form the basis for more collaboration and future market opportunities for businesses in our region.”
“Biotechnology, and the broader life sciences sector, holds tremendous promise in Newfoundland and Labrador,” said the Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural Development. “It is a sector that is developing innovative applications for use in resource and non-resourced based industries. This conference provides a direct opportunity for Newfoundland and Labrador’s delegation to market local solutions and capacity and connect with a highly-qualified international audience.”
More than 15,000 attendees from 65 countries attended the 2012 BIO International Convention. Participants discussed insights and major trends affecting the industry, including breakthroughs in medicine, diagnostics, the environment, energy production, financing and policy issues.
While at the event, the Atlantic Canadian participants proactively showcased their goods and services to potential buyers and new business partners. Delegates attended various networking receptions, panel sessions and forums, and took part in one-on-one business development meetings. Participants also had the opportunity to learn about the latest trends and the newest opportunities in the biotechnology industry.
“Our association represents the province’s advanced technology industries, including the life sciences sector,” said Natasha Hudson, Business Development Coordinator with the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Technology Industries. “BIO 2012 is the world’s largest biotechnology gathering, and we look forward to promoting the expertise of the province’s Life Sciences industry to other attendees from around the world.”
Atlantic Canada is home to over 100 biotechnology companies and 25 research organizations, with over $300 million in annual private sector revenues. Biotechnological innovation has spurred development in a number of key industries, including marine sciences and health care.
Supporting the participation of an Atlantic Canadian delegation at the 2012 BIO International Convention is part of the Government of Canada and the four Atlantic provincial governments’ ongoing commitment to stimulate the economy and create jobs by helping Atlantic Canadian businesses grow and compete in international markets. The mission was organized by the Prince Edward Island Bio Alliance.
An investment of $87,800 for the business mission was provided through the Canada-Atlantic Provinces Agreement on International Business Development.
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Media contacts:
| Andréa Richer Press Secretary Office of the Honourable Bernard Valcourt 613-790-3637 andrea.richer@acoa-apeca.gc.ca |
Scott Barfoot Director of Communications Department of Innovation, Business and Rural Development Government of Newfoundland and Labrador 709-729-4570 scottbarfoot@gov.nl.ca |
Robert Bourgeois Senior Communications Officer Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency 506-851-6394 robert.bourgeois@acoa-apeca.gc.ca |
BACKGROUNDER
Atlantic Canadian Companies and Organizations
that Attended 2012 BIO International Convention
Aquascience LLC: Prince Edward Island’s Aquascience LLC is a start-up company with a 100 per cent focus on aquaculture. The company is involved in the development and commercialization of technologies that can improve the health and efficiency of aquatic species.
BioVectra: BioVectra, of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, develops and manufactures a range of specialty and fine chemicals, advanced intermediates, enzymes and biomolecules. The company also provides custom synthesis and manufacturing services for the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and nutraceutical industries.
Chelation Partners: Chelation Partners Incorporated is a Halifax-based Canadian company providing a novel approach to combat microbes that cause disease or product spoilage. This new approach is based on a relatively simple concept: selectively remove an essential and irreplaceable element – iron – that is absolutely needed for growth by all pathogenic bacteria and fungi.
CRP40 Inc.: CRP40 Inc., of Halifax, Nova Scotia, is a biotechnology company focused on the research and development of a novel diagnostic blood test for the early and definitive detection of neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, and, a proprietary therapeutic to treat and mitigate the effects of neurological diseases. Building upon the foundational research of a patented natural protein, CRP40 Inc. is seeking co-development and commercialization partners for synergistic collaboration. Combined early detection and treatment of neurological diseases may offer a critical integrative approach to combat these debilitating disorders."
Dartmouth Medical Research Ltd.: Dartmouth Medical Research Ltd. is a life sciences company based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The company is involved in developing surgical “hot melt” bone glue used to adhere broken bones, thus replacing traditional plates and screws. Results show the glue takes less time in surgery and produces better healing.
DeNovaMed Inc.: Located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, DeNovaMed Inc. is a start-up biotech company founded by Dalhousie University scientists and operating out of a new laboratory at the IWK Health Centre.
Diversified Metal Engineering Ltd.: Headquartered in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Diversified Metal Engineering Ltd. is a manufacturer of stainless steel products. The company also offers specific expertise in the fabrication and design of beer brewing equipment for brewpubs and large-scale production breweries.
Health + Life Sciences New Brunswick: Fredericton New Brunswick’s Health + Life Sciences New Brunswick is a province-wide cluster initiative that fosters the growth of health & life science research and development through collaboration between various levels of government, universities, colleges, regional health authorities and corporations in order to attain better outcomes.
Immunovaccine Inc.: Immunovaccine Inc. (TSX-V:IMV), of Halifax, Nova Scotia, is a clinical stage vaccine development company. The company has patented a vaccine enhancement and delivery technology called DepoVax™. DepoVax™ has broad platform applicability and the potential to make a significant contribution to the field of vaccines.
IPSNP Consulting: IPSNP Consulting, of Fredericton, New Brunswick, is a leader in Semantic Automated Discovery and Integration (SADI) technology that provides a cutting-edge means of integrating heterogeneous distributed and autonomous informational and computational resources. This cost effective and easy-to-use system takes data mining to a level currently unattainable.
Island Abbey Foods Ltd.: Island Abbey Foods is a Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, company that produces 100 per cent pure honey-based products, such as the Honey Drop and Honey Delights. Their products are unique in that they are made of pure honey but are in a solid, non sticky form that can be used as sweeteners, lozenges or candy.
Neurodyn Inc.: Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island’s Neurodyn Inc. is a biotechnology company utilizing a portfolio approach to identify, validate and develop bioactives for the early treatment of neurological diseases.
NeuroQuest: NeuroQuest Inc., of Halifax, Canada, is a drug development company seeking new approaches to modulation of nerve transmission and promising clinical applications particularly for neuropathic pain.
Picomole Instruments: Moncton, New Brunswick’s Picomole Instruments Inc. is an award-winning company with an ultra-sensitive gas analysis technology. The company's flagship product, LifeSens™, is an instrument designed for rapid point-of-care testing using exhaled breath samples.
Sorcimed BioPharma Inc.: Soricimed BioPharma Inc., of Sackville, New Brunswick, is a private drug and diagnostic development company created in 2005 following the discovery and development of a proprietary peptide, soricidin. Soricidin is the basis for Soricimed’s targeted cancer management program focused on an ovarian cancer therapeutic and a companion early diagnostic.
Strategic Directions Consulting: Strategic Directions Consulting, of Fredericton, New Brunswick, is a research and development consulting firm specializing in the commercialization of biotechnology pharmaceuticals and health technologies as well as strategies, leadership development and change management initiatives for global competitiveness.
Treventis Corporation: Treventis Corporation’s mandate is to ensure its research will make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) by using its proprietary technologies to discover and initiate development of wholly novel and proprietary drugs that halt progression, stabilize and potentially improve the patient's cognition. The company is based in Halifax Nova Scotia.
Federal and provincial government officials, as well as representatives from the following organizations, are also part of the business mission to the 2012 International BIO Convention:
- Bio Atlantech
- BioNova
- Dalhousie University
- Horizon Health Network
- The Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Technology Industries
- PEI BioAlliance
- The University of New Brunswick
2012 06 22 11:45 a.m