Bioenterprise Corporation has announced thirteen (13) recipients of innovation grants that support research-based technologies coming out of Ontario. The grants aim to advance commercialization of innovations, enhance competitiveness, and strengthen the leadership position of Ontario in the agriculture and agri-food sectors.
The Innovation Grants have been awarded through the Agri-Technology Commercialization Centre’s (ATCC) Accelerating Innovative Research (AIR) Program. The AIR Program provides support to innovators from Ontario’s universities and colleges as well as industry organizations, to fill knowledge, technical, business or entrepreneurial gaps in order to accelerate adoption of new technologies by the agriculture and agri-food industries.
A total of $510,000 was granted, with each of the following organizations receiving between $30,000 - $50,000 in funding:
- · Oat & Mill Ltd., Smith Falls, ON
- · The Chufa Company, Toronto, ON
- · University of Western Ontario, London, ON
- · Local Line Inc., Kitchener, ON
- · Crazy D’s Soda Lab, Toronto, ON
- · Conestoga College, Kitchener, ON
- · Beef Improvement Organization (BIO), Elora, ON
- · Mirexus Biotechnologies Inc., Guelph, ON
- · Club Coffee LP, Toronto, ON
- · Nature’s Wave Inc., Milverton, ON
- · Transport Genie Ltd., Guelph, ON
- · Vive Crop Protection Inc., Toronto, ON
- · Escarpment Laboratories Inc., Guelph, ON
The funding will go toward pre-approved projects with a five-month timeline that advance commercialization of technology and greatly increase the probability of attracting follow-up funding for further technology development and industry adoption.
“These grants are part of our commitment to increasing adoption of innovative research in Ontario,” says Dave Smardon, President and CEO of Bioenterprise. “
The program was devised, in part, because Bioenterprise recognized that extensive support is required to enable commercial adoption of innovative products or technologies once they are created. This includes support for commercialization activities such as later-stage research & development, product and process development or enhancement, prototyping, validation or demonstration, regulatory & legal strategy, and business modelling - all of which must occur in order to identify appropriate customers.
“Financial support for these activities is imperative, and is often more impactful if it is accompanied by mentorship related to business planning and network development,” adds Smardon.
The AIR Program is supported by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).
Source: Bioenterprise