May 20, 2015
Vancouver, BC – The Honourable Michelle Rempel, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification and representatives of Genome British Columbia (Genome BC) today announced that Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) is contributing $715,000 to Genome BC.
This funding will be used by Genome BC to address the federal Government’s economic priority of responsible resource development, support priorities that natural resources industries have identified as being critical to longer term success, and will help Western Canadian small and medium enterprises grow their international markets.
“Research and innovation are crucial to Canada’s economic success. Thanks to our Government’s funding, Genome British Columbia will provide the tools that our natural resource sectors can use to remain strong and competitive, thereby creating jobs and promoting prosperity,” says the Honourable Michelle Rempel, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification.
The funding will be directed towards significantly increasing the user-pull of relevant genomics technologies by existing companies and organizations, and supporting the development of new companies to commercialize genomics technologies.
“This investment will attract international partnerships and direct foreign investment, as well as improve the trading position of Western Canadian companies through the development of genomics technologies such as those that can guarantee pest-free wood products, or trace the provenance of agri-fisheries products,” says Dr. Tony Brooks, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President, Research Programs.
Some of the partners that Genome BC will be working with to advance the uptake of genomics technologies by users include:
- FP Innovations
- Marine Harvest
- Canfor
- Cermaq
- Summerland Varieties Group
- BC Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences
- BC Wine Grape Council
- BC Food Processors Association
- Lower Mainland Horticultural Improvement Association
- BC Honey Producers Association
- Ministry of Agriculture, Plant and Animal Health Branch
- British Columbia Agriculture Council
- Entrepreneurship@UBC
- University of Victoria
- Thompson Rivers University
- University of Northern British Columbia
- Genome Alberta
- Genome Prairie
The investment made by WD will allow Genome BC to aid these industry partners, and others, to address the gaps in the innovation pipeline between companies, existing science and technology strengths and industrial research and development activities.
By matching industry with academia, and demonstrating how the application of genomics can add value to industrial operations, the funding will spur development of new genomics-based products, processes and services, thereby improving industrial competitiveness and productivity.
