Hon. Minister Coulombe makes statement to Legislative Assembly about NBIF RTI Program

Mister Speaker,

I rise in the house today to inform the members that the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation, in partnership with the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, awarded its 2012 Research Technician Initiative grants today. This funding will allow the creation of eight new positions to help New Brunswick research teams develop and commercialize their innovations.

Some of the R&D projects include a paper-based, recyclable, and heat-sealable strap for securing cardboard boxes, replacing the current metal and plastic ones; a new fuel pellet made from willow trees and large perennial grasses, and a crop disease-fighting compound derived from bacteria that naturally occurs around plant roots.

Mister Speaker, this year’s recipients are:

Dr. Yonghao Ni,  Limerick Pulp & Paper Centre, University of New Brunswick (UNB);
Dr. Chui, Wood Science & Technology Centre, UNB;
Dr. Martin Fillion, Département de biologie, Université de Moncton;
Dr. Ying Zheng, Catalytic Process Laboratory, UNB;
Doctors Lloyd and Westcott, Mount Allison Cancer Cell Culture Facility;
Dr. Kent,  The IBM Center for Advanced Studies, UNB;
Dr. Djaoued,  Laboratoire de Recherche en Matériaux et Micro-spectroscopies, Université de Moncton; and
Dr. Brigitte Leblon, Tweedale Industrial Research Centre, UNB.
Mister speaker, as the NBIF chair Robert Hatheway said, it’s when researchers experience a breakthrough in their science, and find themselves on the path from formulas to real products and processes that additional research talent is needed to bring those products to life.

That is why, I am pleased to say that we are helping these researchers bring their projects to life by providing them with the resources they need to turn their research into economic opportunities for themselves and the province of New Brunswick.

For 2012, the Research Technician Initiative awarded $530,000 in funding, ranging from $55,000 to $70,000 per project. The funding is equally matched by each recipient for a total commitment of more than $1 million.

Mister Speaker, since 2003, NBIF and PETL have awarded $3 million to create 43 new positions under the Research Technician Initiative, unlocking $15 million more from recipient institutions, national granting councils and industry.

Please join me in congratulating this year’s Research Technician Initiative grant recipients.

For more information on the recipients of the 2012 Research Technician Initiative grants, please visit www.nbif.ca.

Thank you Mister Speaker.