NBIF Funds Eight New Research Positions

FREDERICTON (NB) — The New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF) today announced that it has awarded funding of $485,000 to support the hiring of eight new professional researchers at five institutions under its Research Technicians Initiative. Jointly offered by the Foundation and the New Brunswick Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour (PETL), the funding was equally matched by each recipient for a total commitment of $970,000 over three years.

“Building an innovation-based economy depends a great deal on having the right people in the right place, and supported by infrastructure to conduct R&D” says NBIF President & CEO Calvin Milbury, “this program is essential when it comes to building research capacity and maximizing the output of the province’s research community.”

The research technicians and associates funded under this program will be working on research projects that lead to the development of new innovative products and processes, including natural health products for obesity and diabetes, counterfeit prevention technology, solar energy products, aquaculture, and new mineral exploration techniques.

“Finding new ways to add value to what New Brunswick industry is already the best at is key to ensuring a self-sufficient future for the province,” says PETL Minister Donald Arseneault, “this is just one way that our Post-Secondary Action Plan works to match education outcomes with the needs of industry, and to keep some of our most talented people here.”

Since 2003, the Foundation has awarded $3.5 million to create 51 new positions under the Research Technician Initiative, unlocking $17.5 million more from recipient institutions, national granting councils and industry.

For an explanation of the projects that received funding, and for researcher, institution and award disclosure, click here.