A new BioCommons Manufacturing Centre will be built in the BioCommons Research Park, thanks to a combined investment of more than $4.65 million from the federal and provincial governments.
The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, on behalf of the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, the Honourable Robert Ghiz, Premier of Prince Edward Island, and Mr. David McInnis, Chair, Charlottetown Area Development Corporation (CADC), gathered today in Charlottetown to announce funding details.
“Our Government is pleased to support the construction of this new facility and the contribution it will make to further strengthen the bioscience technology cluster on Prince Edward Island,” said Minister Shea.
The 30,000 sq. ft. BioCommons Manufacturing Centre will be leased to bioscience companies that are market ready and require a light manufacturing facility. The facility will have space to accommodate five bioscience companies.
“Bioscience is one of the key growth sectors of Prince Edward Island’s economy. Our government is very pleased to partner with ACOA and CADC in providing the facilities bioscience firms need in order to innovate, grow and create opportunities for Islanders,” said Premier Ghiz.
The Government of Canada is supporting the project with an investment of $2,000,000 through ACOA’s Innovative Communities Fund. The Province of Prince Edward Island is contributing a $2.65 million through Innovation PEI.
“The Charlottetown Area Development Corporation is pleased to partner with ACOA and the Province to build and operate this manufacturing centre,” said Mr. McInnis.
The BioCommons Research Park will be built on 65 acres of land in Charlottetown and will become a centre for bioscience research and development, manufacturing and support services. The BioCommons Manufacturing Centre will be a location of choice for those bioscience companies operating in the natural products and bio-actives space who need to expand their production capability. This facility will play an important role by providing key infrastructure that will enable the successful evolution and growth of PEI’s bioscience cluster.
Media Contacts:
Cindy Roy, ACOA PEI & Tourism, (902) 566-7569, Cindy.Roy@acoa-apeca.gc.ca
Ron Ryder, PEI Department of Innovation and Advanced Learning, (902) 620-3774, rrryder@gov.pe.ca