Research and development in New Brunswick will receive a boost from a federal investment of up to $12.6 million in six innovative R&D projects under Round V of the Atlantic Innovation Fund (AIF). The announcement was made today by the Honourable Greg Thompson, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Regional Minister for New Brunswick, on behalf of the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).

“Harnessing an economic advantage from innovation is important for the economic future of New Brunswick,” said Minister Thompson. “The Atlantic Innovation Fund is a catalyst for increased trade, investment and productivity and helps Atlantic Canada attract and retain a highly skilled workforce.”

The New Brunswick projects are valued at approximately $19 million and proponents are expected to leverage an additional $6.4 million in funding from a variety of private and public sector sources. These leading-edge research projects include the development of biodegradable bags and food packaging, the production of high quality ultraclean petro diesel, and more efficient and competitive manufacturing processes for plywood.

The AIF has been instrumental in increasing the R&D capacity in New Brunswick and enhancing the region’s growing reputation for innovation and R&D. Since 2006, ACOA has invested nearly $49 million through AIF in New Brunswick projects valued at $101 million.

Today’s announcement is part of a series of announcements that will detail the 29 innovative research and development projects across Atlantic Canada. These projects will receive up to $63 million in AIF funding.

The projects unite universities, businesses and research institutions conducting world-class research which, once commercialized, has the potential to grow Atlantic Canada’s economy. With a total project value of approximately $126.8 million, proponents are expected to leverage an additional $63.8 million in funding from a variety of private and public sector sources.

ACOA’s Atlantic Innovation Fund encourages the commercialization of research in Atlantic Canada and has been a key driver for many Atlantic Canadian businesses, universities and research institutions. It has enhanced Atlantic Canada’s reputation for innovation and, through the success of the projects it has funded, the AIF has contributed significantly to the region’s research, development and economic performance.

Today Minister MacKay officially launched the next round of the Atlantic Innovation Fund by inviting eligible proponents to submit letters of intent and project proposals for AIF funding under Round VI. “I am pleased to launch the next round of funding under the Atlantic Innovation Fund, a program which is helping to bring new knowledge, new jobs and new business opportunities to Atlantic Canada,” said Minister MacKay.

Eligible proponents, which include private sector businesses, universities, colleges and other research organizations, are invited to submit a mandatory letter of intent by March 4, 2008, and a complete project proposal by April 29, 2008.

Projects selected for AIF funding in New Brunswick in this round include:

AL-PACK Enterprises Limited (Moncton) Project: Production of Biodegradable Bags and Food Packaging In collaboration with the University of New Brunswick, AL- PACK Enterprises Limited will develop and commercialize new starch-based, biodegradable materials to be used in shopping bags, compost bags and food packaging. This project, with total estimated costs of approximately $2.2 million, will receive up to $1.5 million from the Atlantic Innovation Fund over a three-year period.

Atcon Plywood Inc. (Miramichi) Project: Engineering a New Generation of Technologies to Remain Competitive in the Wood Industry Atcon Plywood Inc. will work with scientists from the University of New Brunswick to adapt novel robotic technology to create more efficient and competitive manufacturing processes for plywood. This project, with total estimated costs of approximately $3.9 million, will receive up to $2.7 million from the Atlantic Innovation Fund over a three-year period.

Cooke Aquaculture Inc. (Blacks Harbour) Project: Aquaculture Stock Traceability Cooke Aquaculture Inc. will work with researchers at the Research and Productivity Council to develop an innovative DNA-based traceability system to track individual Atlantic salmon from “farm-to-fork” within a commercial aquaculture operation. Fish traceability is important given growing public concerns about food safety, new regulatory requirements and increasingly competitive markets. This project, with total estimated costs of approximately $2.8 million, will receive up to $1.9 million from the Atlantic Innovation Fund over a four-year period.

Hydroprocessing Laboratory - University of New Brunswick (Fredericton) Project: Innovative Technologies for Production of Ultraclean Diesel The University of New Brunswick’s Hydroprocessing Laboratory specializes in fuel analysis, catalyst synthesis and characterization. This project will develop technologies to produce high quality ultraclean petro diesel and reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from biodiesel. This project, with total estimated costs of approximately $2.3 million, will receive up to $1.3 million from the Atlantic Innovation Fund over a five-year period.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Centre - University of New Brunswick (Fredericton) Project: Next Generation Magnetic Resonance Measurements for Petroleum Reservoir Core Analysis The Magnetic Resonance Imaging Centre at the University of New Brunswick has earned an international reputation for excellence in developing new MRI methods to analyze petroleum core samples. In collaboration with Saudi Aramco, the largest oil company in the world, and Green Imaging Technologies of New Brunswick, UNB researchers will develop measurement techniques for petroleum core analysis that are faster, more precise and more economical than current methods. This project, with total estimated costs of approximately $3.7 million, will receive up to $2.1 million from the Atlantic Innovation Fund over a five-year period.

Université de Moncton (Moncton) Project: Development of Dietary Products from Bio-Resources This project, led by Dr. Marc Surette, Canada Research Chair in Cellular Lipid Metabolism at the Université de Moncton, will research new processes for the production of plant seed oils for the commercial production of biopeptides derived from seafood processing discards. This project, with total estimated costs of approximately $4.1 million, will receive up to $3 million from the Atlantic Innovation Fund over a five-year period.

The projects selected for AIF funding in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island were announced this morning in Halifax by Minister MacKay, and in Charlottetown by Rob Moore, Member of Parliament for Fundy Royal. AIF projects for Newfoundland and Labrador will be announced tomorrow in St. John’s by the Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Regional Minister for Newfoundland and Labrador.

FOR BROADCAST USE:

Veterans Affairs and Regional Minister Greg Thompson today released the details of the six projects in New Brunswick that will receive up to $12.6 million in funding under Round V of the Government of Canada’s Atlantic Innovation Fund. The projects are valued at approximately $19 million and proponents are expected to leverage an additional $6.4 million in funding from a variety of private and public sector sources.

Today’s announcement comes as part of a series of announcements to release details on the 29 innovative research and development projects that will receive up to $63 million in AIF funding throughout Atlantic Canada, as announced today by the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of ACOA.

Minister MacKay also invited businesses, universities and research institutions in Atlantic Canada to submit proposals for funding under the next round of the Atlantic Innovation Fund. Mandatory letters of intent must be submitted to ACOA by March 4, 2008, and complete project proposals are due by April 29, 2008.

The Atlantic Innovation Fund is designed to increase Atlantic Canada’s ability to carry out leading-edge R&D and is helping to bring new knowledge, new jobs and new business opportunities to Atlantic Canada.

Photographs are available on the ACOA website at: http://www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca/mediaroom/photo/photo.shtml

Peta Fussell
Senior Communications Officer
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Fredericton, New Brunswick
506-452-3304

Diana Zandberg
Director, Communications, Client Services
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Moncton, New Brunswick
506-851-2132

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR PROJECTS SELECTED FOR AIF FUNDING 
IN 
NEW BRUNSWICK:

Mr. Stephen Beatty
Chief Financial Officer
AL-PACK Enterprises Limited
Moncton, New Brunswick
506-852-4262

Ms. Dorothy Innes
Manager, Communications and Public Relations
ATCON Plywood Inc.
Miramichi, New Brunswick
506-627-1445

Dr. Jake Elliott
Director, Technical and Freshwater Operations 
Cooke Aquaculture Inc.
Blacks Harbour, New Brunswick
506-466-6639

Mr. Ying Zheng, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
University of New Brunswick
Fredericton, New Brunswick
506-447-3329

Dr. Bruce Balcom
Director of the MRI Research Centre and Canada Research 
Chair in Material Science MRI
University of New Brunswick
Fredericton, New Brunswick
506-458-7938

Dr. Marc Surette
Canada Research Chair in Cellular Lipid Metabolism
Université de Moncton
Moncton, New Brunswick
506-858-4310