Eleven research and development proposals have been offered funding under the Discovery and Development Fund, a program to encourage new product development through partnerships between primary resource industries, the private sector and research institutions.
Allan Campbell, Minister of Innovation and Advanced Learning, announced the projects that will be offered funding under the Island Prosperity Strategy, government’s innovation and economic strategy.
“This programming marks the launch of the commitments made by the Government of PEI under the Island Prosperity Strategy,” said Minister Campbell. “This funding will help researchers who are working with new technologies create high-value products that have a strong potential for commercialization.”
The Discovery and Development Fund will offer funding of up to $100,000 to 11 successful proponents to execute discovery and development phases of Prince Edward Island based projects.
A peer review committee was established to assess the 49 proposals requesting funding from the program. The Government of PEI contributed more than one million dollars towards the total cost of the 11 projects, leveraging a further seven million dollar investment by the private and public sector.
“Government is pleased to offer financial support to our local research community,” said Minister Campbell. “These programs strengthen and support innovation, productivity, competitiveness and commercialization opportunities in all sectors of the provincial economy.”
The recipients of the Discovery and Development Fund will be honoured at a luncheon on June 29, 2009 where they will receive recognition from Premier Robert Ghiz for their dedicated work in research and innovation.
The following projects will be offered funding by the Department of Innovation and Advanced Learning through the Island Prosperity Strategy.
1. Bio Vision Technology (Chopin Viger) ~ Project Title: Analysis and Determination of Biological Activity of Selected Fractions Captured From Steam Explosion of Lignocellulosic Biomass
The funding will be used to produce the steam fractionation of straw which produces high quantities of ferulic acid, an important phenolic acid valuable as a UV absorber, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. This process does not use sulphur like the current technology available making it more environmentally friendly.
2. Clean Green Heat Ltd. & Wildwood Pellets Ltd. (Paul Smallman) ~ Project Title: Supply Heat to Commercial / Institutional Facilities and Manufacture Premium / Commercial Grade Wood Pellets.
Funding will provide commercial heating systems and supply spatial heat on a forward-contracted basis utilizing locally produced renewable forest biomass as a feedstock. Wildwood Pellets Ltd. will be responsible for manufacturing premium and commercial grade wood pellets for heating customers.
3. Holland College (Dr. Audrey Penner) ~ Project Title: Development of “Maximum Nutrition” Snack Products: Vegetable Crisps and Nutrifying Berry Bar.
Funding will be used to develop healthy and nutritional fruit and vegetable snacks which will be marketed and sold in high school vending machines and to diabetic consumers.
4. Island Abbey Foods Ltd. (John Rowe) ~ Project Title: Pure Honey Based Lozenge for Upper Respiratory Therapy.
Funding will contribute to the development, marketing and licensing of honey-based lozenges for respiratory therapy. This is a natural product with no artificial sugars.
5. Island Meadows Forage Company (Donald Stewart) ~ Project Title: Value Added Forage Product Development and Proof of Concept.
Funding will be used to provide Haylage technology to the equine industry to help with respiratory health problems arising from traditional forages.
6. Halibut PEI (Jim Dunphy) ~ Project Title: Halibut PEI - Phase II Developments.
Funding will allow continued research for maximizing growth of halibut in low salinity water by stock selection, as well as evaluating feeds and alternate food sources.
7. NRC – Institute of Nutrisciences and Health (Dr. Jim Johnston) ~ Project Title: Genomic Techniques to Evaluate the Effect of OxBC on Gut Microbiome and Immune Function
This funding will help further research by evaluating lead formations on production of pro-inflammatory that contribute to arthritis and protective factors that defend against this damage.
8. Pellagri Energy (Andrew McCabe) ~ Project Title: Developing and Commercializing a Certified Residential BioFuel Heating Solution and Refining an Innovation Pellet Mill that uses Agricultural Material for Pellet Production to be used as a Heating Fuel.
Funding on this project will allow continued work on the company’s commercial prototype unit while also providing further development work to the adaption of the burner technology to support use in smaller residential applications.
9. Telos International Inc. (Sean Yeomans) ~ Project Title: Videogame-Based Automated Cognitive Assessment Tool.
The funding will be used to develop a prototype video game that when played will automatically assess levels of cognitive abilities in three critical categories: Attention, memory and executive function.
10. University of Prince Edward Island (Christopher Riley) ~ Project Title: Development of Infrared Spectroscopy Based Tests for the Detection and Identification of Immunoglobulins, their Associated Disorders and Assay of Immunoglobulin Products.
Project funding will allow extensive research into the measurement of immunoglobulin levels in serum which provides diagnostic assessment of immune functions.
11. University of Prince Edward Island (Dr. Laurie McDuffee) ~ Project Title: Cell-based Therapy for the Promotion of Bone Healing in Horses.
This project will provide weight of evidence that bone-cell therapy will successfully and repeatedly accelerate bone healing in horses.