📋 Tender Overview
As Canadians begin to look toward economic recovery Canadas small and medium-sized enterprises SME will be the backbone of economic growth in communities across the country. These firms are already supporting more than 10 million jobs for Canadian workers and many of them are making groundbreaking discoveries to improve Canadians lives and drive innovation and technology. To achieve even greater success these firms need funding advice and connections to gain capital increase expertise and scale up.Today the Honourable Franois-Philippe Champagne Minister of Innovation Science and Industry visited Aspect Biosystems Ltd. a company receiving support through the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program NRC IRAP to highlight how the government is providing critical support to British Columbias innovative SMEs. Aspect Biosystems is receiving up to 1122127 to support two innovative projects integrating unique 3D bioprinting technology to develop implantable cardiac and pancreatic therapeutic tissues and developing novel 3D printing technologies enabling the fabrication of implantable tissues that can engraft and be vascularized in living organisms.Some further notable B.C.-based projects to benefit from the programs research and development funding assistance include the followingAbCellera Biologics is receiving up to 2617300 for the development validation and integration of new technologies to create a platform for the discovery of antibodies for next-generation biotherapeutics.MineSense Technologies Ltd. is receiving up to 2950000 for the design development and testing of a digitally connected bulk material sensing system for mining operations.Semiosbio Technologies Inc. is receiving up to 2490000 for the development of an accurate microclimate data and agronomic modelbased service for acres within fruit and nut orchards that have few or no climate sensors. This will involve integration of new distributed wireless sensor technology and agronomic models calculated from real and predicted microclimate data.Over the last two years NRC IRAP has provided advisory services and over 115.2 million in research and development funding to B.C.-based SMEs helping them grow build their innovation capacity and successfully take ideas to market.During the COVID-19 pandemic the Innovation Assistance Program was put in place to help innovative firms keep their doors open keep their employees on the payroll and recover quickly. Over 400 innovative firms in British Columbia have received support of approximately 73 million under this program.QuotesWe know that supporting innovative Canadian businesses and entrepreneurs is critical to spurring our economic recovery and to creating good jobs in communities across Canada. Thats why we made significant investments in IRAP to support innovative firms across Canada. British Columbia is home to one of Canadas leading innovation ecosystems and this investment will be critical to supporting companies with world-class ideas that need access to funding expertise and networks to further their innovations. The Honourable Franois-Philippe Champagne Minister of Innovation Science and IndustryThe success of Canadas economy depends on the growth of Canadian businesses that innovate and take their products and services to global markets. The National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program helps Canadian small and medium-sized businesses pursue this goal through comprehensive advisory services research and development funding and connections to Canadian and international opportunities across all sectors. Mitch Davies President National Research Council of Canada
