Construction of the first facility within the BioCommons Research Park is nearing completion and the provincial government has fully rented the facility to bioscience companies.
The BioCommons Manufacturing Facility, a partnership of Innovation PEI, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and the Charlottetown and Area Development Corporation, is designed as an adaptable 32,000 sq. ft. space in which bioscience-related companies can establish commercial operations. This facility is the first unit to be built in the 65-acre BioCommons Research Park in Charlottetown. Construction of the facility began in January 2011.
“Our Government continues to encourage small- and medium-sized businesses to pursue research and development that will drive innovation, strengthen our economy and increase our country’s competitiveness,” said the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Minister of State for La Francophonie. “This facility provides infrastructure to help them achieve these goals.”
The environmentally designed building has attracted considerable interest from within the bioscience community.
Tenants who have committed to the new facility include:
• Island Abbey – Manufacturing space for the Honibe line of honey products
• Tetragenx – New product development, Manufacturing and Formulation of medicated animal feeds
• Ceapro – Production, research and development space for human and animal health products
• Omniactives – Supplier of nutritional ingredients to healthcare and food industries
“The manufacturing centre has reached substantial completion and it is very exciting that we have four bioscience companies who have committed to do business in the new building,” said the Honourable Allan Campbell, Minister of Innovation and Advanced Learning. “The next step is fitting out the rented spaces to each tenant’s needs. I look forward to seeing these forward-looking bioscience companies begin operations over the course of the summer and fall of 2011.”
The bioscience sector was chosen as a provincial priority because of its great economic promise and because of its potential to create new products and markets for the Island’s traditional farming, fishery and forestry sectors. There are nearly 50 bioscience-related employers on Prince Edward Island, with an estimated 950 Islanders working in this field. Bioscience employment has increased by roughly 200 positions since 2008. Bioscience on Prince Edward Island generated revenues of $77 million in 2009/10.
“I am confident that these four companies will find success and growth in the PEI BioCommons and that we will see this park continue to attract new firms,” said Minister Campbell. “We are proud to support innovation on Prince Edward Island and to see leading-edge companies create work and opportunities for Islanders.”
Recruitment efforts are continuing and talks are underway with companies considering rental space in future BioCommons buildings as well as with companies considering establishing their own stand-alone facilities in the BioCommons Research Park.
For more information on the PEI BioCommons Research Park, visit www.innovationpei.com.
BACKGROUNDER
Biocommons Manufacturing Facility Fully Rented
The BioCommons Manufacturing Facility, a partnership of Innovation PEI, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and the Charlottetown and Area Development Corporation, is designed as an adaptable 32,000 sq. ft. space in which bioscience-related companies can establish commercial operations. This facility is the first unit to be built in the 65-acre BioCommons Research Park in Charlottetown. Construction of the facility began in January 2011.
Government recruiters have succeeded in reaching occupancy agreements that will completely fill the building when construction is complete. The rented spaces will be fitted out to meet the new tenants’ needs.
Tenants who have committed to the new facility include:
Island Abbey - www.honibe.com
Island Abbey Foods Ltd. is a specialty honey producer based in Prince Edward Island. Honibe™ (honee-bee) brand honey is a line of all natural, specialty honey from PEI. Island Abbey offer Honibe™ brand products like the Honey Drop™, the world’s first 100% pure, no mess, non sticky honey, a 100% pure honey candy called Honey Delights™, granular honey called Honey Sprinkles™ and Honey Lozenges™ for cough and sore throat relief.
Tetragenx - www.tetragenx.com
TetraGenx was formed in 2000 providing pharmaceutical development and consulting services to the North and Central American markets. TetraGenx remains 100% privately owned and currently operates out of two facilities in the Montreal, Quebec region. The company has established itself as a multi-disciplinary company providing a wide range of services to the pharmaceutical industry.
Ceapro - www.ceapro.com
Incorporated in 1997, Ceapro's mission is to be a global leader in developing and commercializing products for the human and animal health market through the use of proprietary technology and renewable resources. Ceapro has achieved a reputation as an innovative formulator and advanced processor of active ingredients, botanical extracts, and therapeutic products. Ceapro Inc. is a small cap, public company traded on the Canadian TSX Venture Stock Exchange (TSXV: CZO)
Omniactives - www.omniactives.com
OmniActive Health Technologies (OmniActives™) supplies nutritional ingredients to healthcare, food and personal care industries. Omniactive Health Technologies is headquartered in Mumbai (India), with manufacturing in Thane (India), Pune (India) and Cochin (India), with a subsidiary in Short Hills, New Jersey (USA), and a distribution network covering Europe, Asia and South America. Parent company KANCOR Ingredients has been a manufacturer of premium ingredient for over 35 years, with a business history since 1865.