Six Nova Scotia Companies Benefit from Voucher Funding

Six manufacturing companies in the province will continue to work with universities to improve their products and operations through an expanded provincial program.

The Productivity and Innovation Voucher Accelerated Program provides previous voucher recipients $25,000 to access expertise at universities and colleges to further increase their productivity and innovation. The vouchers will be used to explore new business opportunities, improve existing products, and refine operations.

"We remain committed to finding new ways to support the growth and innovation of Nova Scotia businesses through jobsHere," said Percy Paris, Minister of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism. "These businesses have seen great success as a result of their initial voucher. And now we get to help them become more productive, innovative and competitive with this new pilot program."

One of the recipients is Stack-A-Buoy Marine Products Inc., based in Arichat, Richmond Co. It specializes in the innovation, manufacture, distribution, sales and export of marine floatation products and related accessories. Its first product is an innovative patented stackable marine buoy. The company will work with Dalhousie University to improve its production process. The company's product helps lobster fishers save up to 30 per cent of storage space, which is significant for both economic and safety purposes. The product is currently being marketed in Atlantic Canada and in the United States.

"The Productivity and Innovation Voucher Accelerated Program has helped us face the many challenges you experience as a start-up company," said Blair Gotell, chief executive officer. "The accelerated program will allow us to integrate new infrared heating and welding technology in the assembly system, making us more productive and giving us a higher level of quality control."

Also based in Arichat is SRD International Ltd., a snow crab harvesting company working to develop new overseas markets. The company will work with Université Sainte-Anne to expand on the technical and scientific work conducted with the first voucher.

Working with the Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Aquashell Holdings Inc. based in Wallace, Cumberland Co., will use its voucher to build on a project to perfect the process for developing an organic product from lobster shell waste that can be used to control plant diseases.

Biogas Energy Inc. of Halifax combines energy production with waste management. The company will work with Mount Saint Vincent University to expand its business opportunities to include problematic wood-derived waste materials for use in biogas production.

Sunrise Foods is a Dartmouth-based company that sells snack food products across Canada. The company will work with Dalhousie University to increase productivity in its production processes.

Uplift Technologies Inc. of Dartmouth develops, manufactures and distributes devices that help people stay active and independent at home. The company will work with the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and Dalhousie to continue product development for the next phase of redesign of its portable lifting seats.

"Dalhousie is regularly engaged with a number of private sector businesses throughout the province," said Stephen Hartlen, assistant vice-president, industry relations, Dalhousie University. "We are keenly interested in finding ways to help make them more productive, and to help them create new products, services and processes, so they can be more competitive in the global marketplace."