Province Supporting Small Business to Innovate, Produce, Compete

NOTE: A list of the small businesses that have been awarded Productivity and Innovation Voucher Program vouchers (by region) follows this release.

BioNovations is one of dozens of Nova Scotia businesses that will have help to partner with universities and colleges to develop, design and test new and innovative products.

The Université Sainte-Anne's Marine Research Centre will conduct more research and development on the Antigonish-based company's live seafood holding and transportation system, with funding from the province.

The province awarded vouchers to 46 businesses from across Nova Scotia to help them become more innovative and productive.

"Now more than ever, Nova Scotia must embrace innovation and support growth to help get our people and businesses ready to take advantage of future opportunities," said Maurice Smith, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, on behalf of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism Minister Percy Paris. "That's why this government is helping small companies in all regions of the province grow their business and improve their products."

The Productivity and Innovation Voucher Program first-tier vouchers provide up to $15,000 for applied research, engineering services, prototyping, product design, field-testing and other help from Nova Scotia's academic institutions. The province has awarded first tier vouchers to 32 businesses this year.

Fourteen previous recipients will receive a second-tier voucher, worth up to $25,000, to build on their progress.

This year, the province increased program funding to $900,000 from $650,000, and added the second-tier vouchers after a successful pilot project last year.

"With our first voucher, we worked with Université Sainte Anne to develop a prototype and do trials," said Joe Boudreau, president of BioNovations. "With the second one, we'll work on improving the design, based on what we learned and do more trials with various species. Ultimately, this will allow the export of live Atlantic Canadian seafood around the world."

During the past five years, nearly 200 businesses, from industrial and commercial manufacturing to information and communications technologies, life sciences and agri-foods, have received vouchers.

Participating universities and colleges are Dalhousie, including the former Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Acadia, Cape Breton, Mount Saint Vincent, Saint Mary's and St. Francis Xavier universities, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Nova Scotia Community College and Université Sainte-Anne.

"Through the province's Productivity and Innovation Voucher Program, Université Sainte-Anne is very pleased to support innovative private sector initiatives by means of our Marine Research Centre and CDENE's University Business Development Centre," said Allister Surette, president and vice-chancellor of Université Sainte-Anne. "Our centres assist local business in moving new, high-value products, processes or services to market, and we greatly value our role in this process."

Applications were submitted and reviewed, based on criteria including potential to develop a new value-added product, service or process, and productivity and innovation gains for the business.

For more information on the voucher program, visit www.gov.ns.ca/econ/pnivouchers/.

Following is a list of the small businesses that have been awarded vouchers, by region.

TIER 1 VOUCHER RECIPIENTS

CAPE BRETON
B.W. Bioenergy Incorporated, Sydney Stomp Labs Inc., Sydney

NORTHERN NOVA SCOTIA
Ditch Doctor Atlantic Limited, Glenholme Enviro-Moly Pro, St. Paul's, Pictou Spice of Life Natural Products, Antigonish Znanja Inc., New Glasgow

HALIFAX REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY
Algaculture International, Dartmouth Boondoc Technologies Incorporated, Sackville Chelation Partners Incorporated, Halifax Coccicorp Diagnostic Therapeutic Innovations Inc., Halifax Dr. David P. Morris Inc., Halifax Gravity Communications Inc., Sackville Lightsail Canada Inc., Halifax Local Source Catering Limited, Halifax M-A's Neato Holdings Limited, Halifax Neuroquest Inc., Halifax Noblemay Catering Services, Halifax Resolution Optics Inc., Halifax Syscom Technologies, Halifax Thorasys Thoracic Medical Systems Inc., Halifax

ANNAPOLIS VALLEY, DIGBY Annapolis Valley Peat Moss Company Limited, Berwick Colibri Software Inc. Wolfville Fox Hill Cheese House, Port Williams Ledgehill Treatment and Recovery Centre, Lawrencetown Pie R Squared, Wolfville Spec Environmental Solutions Inc., Concession The Rivers of Avondale Vineyard Inc., Newport Timbertec Incorporated, Kentville VITIS Mobile Winery Services, Wolfville

SOUTH WESTERN NOVA SCOTIA
Intelligent Dynamics Canada Limited, Jordan Falls Jellett Rapid Testing Limited, Chester Basin Propoly Cushioning Inc., Yarmouth

TIER 2 VOUCHER RECIPIENTS

CAPE BRETON
Louisbourg Seafoods Limited, Louisburg

NORTHERN NOVA SCOTIA
Bionovations Inc., Antigonish Ocean Sonics Ltd., Great Village Performance Genomics (1999) Inc., Bible Hill

HALIFAX REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY
Bluelight Analytics Inc., Halifax Cequotia Consulting Inc., Hammonds Plains Green Power Labs Inc., Dartmouth Xeos Technologies Inc., Bedford

ANNAPOLIS VALLEY, DIGBY Clare Machine Works Limited, Meteghan Farmer John's Herbs, Kings County Fundy Dulse, Digby Hutchinson Acres Incorporated, Aylesford Valley Flaxflour Ltd., Middleton

SOUTHWESTERN NOVA SCOTIA
Allendale Electronics Limited, Lockport