Mar 27, 2020 | News, Solid State Pharma Inc. (SSPI)
See original article here
As COVID-19 cases approach triple digits in Nova Scotia, the provincial government is turning to the private sector to answer a critical need for emergency supplies and services.
Scott Moffitt, executive director of BioNova, said he’s already alerted his members to the McNeil government’s request. BioNova represents the province’s health and life sciences industry.
“It’s a very big call to action and I think it’s a big opportunity for this sector to step forward and support the health system, Nova Scotians and beyond,” Moffitt told Global News on Friday.
“The companies in our sector are, for the most part, often highly regulated as medical devices or pharmaceutical products, so they already understand the requirements that the Nova Scotia Health Authority is going to be operating under.”
This morning, BioNova issued a survey to all its member companies asking about what they donated so far and what they’re able to contribute in the future.
Moffitt said they’ve been generous with donations to date, with one member, Solid State Pharma, contributing 10,000 pieces of nitrile medical examination gloves, one box of N95 masks, 25 lab coats and a commitment to prepare 10 litres of hand sanitizer.
Feb 29, 2020 | News
HALIFAX—Dr. Brendan Carr, the president and CEO of the Nova Scotia Health Authority, admits the province’s health care system faces some challenging problems.
Emergency room closures, doctor recruitment, high cancer rates, and a host of other issues are all taxing health care in the province—and Carr believes old solutions won’t fix it.
“We’ve reached a point where simply improving on the way we do things is simply not efficient,” he said Friday, speaking to about 150 health-and-technology-industry players at Volta in Halifax. “We actually need to generate new solutions to these old problems, and we can only do that by bringing new thinking together.”
According to Carr, collaboration and innovation are the keys to fixing health care in the province. And it’s for that exact reason that the NSHA has partnered with several organizations in the province for the “Health Challenge.”
The Health Challenge is a series of events that invite startups to pitch their medical technologies to a panel of judges.
Participants will get 15 minutes to convince the panel their technology can help drive innovation in Nova Scotia health care. There will be five events, each focused on a different provincial health care priority.
Winners of each of the events will receive $100,000 and the opportunity to have their technology adopted for use by the NSHA.
It’s that second part that makes the competition especially valuable for technology startups in the region.
Scott Moffitt is the executive director of BioNova, one of the partners in the Health Challenge. He explained that getting their product into the market is a key step for medical technology companies, but is often one of the toughest hurdles to clear.
“When a [Nova Scotia] company goes to Arkansas and they say ‘is your product being used by the Nova Scotia Health Authority’ and the answer is no, that’s a red flag,” he said.
Moffitt said there are tons of companies in Nova Scotia doing all kinds of innovative things. A real-world endorsement from the NSHA can help put them on the map.
“How do we continue to support and accelerate these companies while adding value to the health care system? That is what today’s is all about. Collaboration is the key. From an ecosystem level it takes a village to support these companies,” he said.
The first of the Health Challenge’s five-pitch competitions will take place on April 8, and will focus on technologies that support cancer care.
For more information on the challenge, or to learn how to apply to pitch, visit the challenge’s website.
Feb 10, 2020 | BF2030, BioTalent Canada, News
HALIFAX, NS – February 10, 2020 – Today, BioTalent Canada and BioNova announced the launch of The PetriDish™ BioNova job board – giving companies in one of Canada’s fastest growing bio-economy hubs a platform to attract highly-skilled talent.
According to BioTalent Canada’s labour market report Mapping Potential, with over 100 life science companies, 26 research organizations and 11 post-secondary institutions, Nova Scotia is well positioned to lead innovation in Canada’s bio-economy.
“It is estimated that by 2030 the number of jobs in the life sciences sector in Nova Scotia will grow by 200%,” says Scott Moffitt, Executive Director at BioNova. “Providing a job board specific to life sciences companies in our province will help attract the talent they need to realize this potential for growth.”
As the HR partner and catalyst for growth in Canada’s bio-economy, BioTalent Canada has built relationships with employers, associations, academic institutions, governments and job seekers to address and alleviate the two key challenges still facing industry leaders – access to capital and access to talent.
“We look forward to working closer with our Silver partner, BioNova, to help their stakeholders with the necessary tools and services needed to succeed in a growing and competitive industry,” says Rob Henderson, President and CEO, BioTalent Canada. “The PetriDish BioNova will give life sciences companies in the province a dedicated platform to reach the right talent to drive their innovations, after all, without people, there can be no science.”
Modelled after BioTalent Canada’s national job board, The PetriDish BioNova will provide employers with the same benefits of narrowing their search for candidates by providing more relevant bio-economy applicants.
Members of BioNova can access free job postings to help with their recruiting needs.
For current openings or to post a job, visit BioNova.ca/Careers
About BioTalent Canada
BioTalent Canada™ is the HR partner and catalyst for growth in Canada’s bio-economy. Our engagement with employers, associations, post-secondary institutions, immigrant serving agencies and service providers has built a dynamic network that is identifying labour market needs, strengthening skills, connecting job-ready talent to industry and creating opportunities. For more information visit biotalent.ca.
About BioNova
BioNova leads, accelerates, and advocates for Nova Scotia’s growing health and life sciences sector. Since 1993, BioNova has been accelerating the growth of its member companies. By hosting networking and educational events, and providing connections to potential funders and business resources, BioNova helps companies succeed. While these companies commercialize life-changing research to improve healthcare, provide healthier food, and develop clean energy solutions, BioNova advocates on behalf of the sector. BioNova champions the sector’s cluster of world-class research facilities, incubator programs, and companies who, together, bring investment and jobs to Nova Scotia. For more information visit bionova.ca.
Media inquiries:
Siobhan Williams
Director, Marketing and Communications
BioTalent Canada
613-235-1402 ext. 229
[email protected]
Shana Cristoferi
Marketing Manager
BioNova
902-421-5705 ext. 4
[email protected]
Nov 7, 2019 | Gallagher, Grant Thornton, Motryx, News, Novagevity
Motryx, the Halifax company whose technology improves the transportation of blood samples, has won the $55,000 BioInnovation Challenge, Atlantic Canada’s top pitching competition for life sciences companies.Co-Founder and CEO Franziska Broell pitched the company at the finals on Wednesday at BioNova’s Bioport Atlantic competition. The other finalists were Charlottetown-based AgTech company Fieldetect, and Halifax-based SeeChange BioChemistry, which will manufacture high-value compounds from biomass.Now in its ninth year, BIC is designed to support young life sciences companies by teaching contestants how to pitch for investment. As the winner, Motryx will receive $25,000 in seed funding and a $30,000 advisory services package to develop its business idea.Because hospitals and healthcare systems are becoming bigger and more centralized, blood samples are often shipped to labs over great distances, sometimes including air shipment. About 3 percent of samples end up being unusable because they are ruined due to the time, temperature or vibrations involved in the trip. Motryx has developed blood vials with sensors that transmit to labs data on the conditions during the trip, allowing lab officials to identify problems and solve them.“In the last six months, we’ve secured eight early adopter clients in Europe and the U.S., and we’ve been able to convert two into paying clients,” Broell told the panel of judges.The company is also doing a pilot in Africa in collaboration with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The company so far has raised $1.5 million, including investment from Killick Capital and Concrete Ventures.SeeChange BioChemistry is using a new bio-refinery process to produce high-value compounds from sustainable sources.
Co-Founder Chris Rafuse said the company, which was founded this year, has found a method to use a form of biomass to produce three industrial compounds: polyphenols, which are used in pharmaceutical industries to help with obesity and Type 2 diabetes; lactic acid, which can be used in 3D printing, plastics and other industrial uses; and another compound that Rafuse declined to name.
Refuse said the company is attacking a $4 billion global market opportunity, and current methods of producing these materials involve extraction from petrochemicals and result in a lot of waste. There is no waste with the SeeChange process, he said, and users demand more sustainable sourcing.
“We’ve never made an outside call,” said Rafuse, adding that the company’s six prospective clients all contacted SeeChange. The company will soon be ready to start selling. “We want to hit the market hard and fast so no one sees us coming and we think we can gain a lot of market share very quickly.”
Operating under a licensing agreement with the University of Prince Edward Island, Fieldetect is developing a hand-held device that will allow farmers to detect disease in their herds fast enough to prevent a large outbreak.
President and Co-Founder Andrew Trivett said the company is beginning with hog farmers, who now have to take samples from their herds and send them to a lab to be tested. In the day or two it takes to get the results back, a disease could spread, possibly leading to a cull of the entire herd.
“What if we could take that test and have the farmer do it themselves, have it take less than an hour and get the result immediately?” asked Trivett.
Fieldetect has developed LabAnywhere, a handheld device that will test a sample from the animal and give farmers the results on their smartphones in about 40 minutes. The team expects to begin shipping the product in late 2020 and sell about 500 units in the subsequent 12 months.
Nov 6, 2019 | Cox & Palmer, Grant Thornton, News
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BioNova, Grant Thornton and Cox & Palmer Propose Updates to N.S. Tax Credit to Boost Investment in Startups
November 6, 2019 – Halifax, Nova Scotia – BioNova, Grant Thornton and Cox & Palmer
BioNova, the organization leading the economic growth of the Health and Life Sciences sector in Nova Scotia in collaboration with Grant Thornton and Cox & Palmer have announced the launch of a report to advance the Innovation Equity Tax Credit (IETC) to better serve the interests of local businesses, the investment community, and the province’s economic development objectives. The announcement was made at BioNova’s 18th annual BioPort Atlantic conference, the largest health and life sciences conference east of Montreal.
This is the second time that BioNova and industry partners have provided recommendations to the province to evolve the tax credit, many of which were adopted with the launch of the new and improved IETC back in January. This has led to welcomed changes for many companies in Nova Scotia, as the attraction of capital has been a long-standing issue for emerging businesses.
“Great strides have been made and we believe there are still opportunities available to further improve and refine the IETC that will have a long-term positive impact on our economy and for the health and life sciences sector,” said Scott Moffitt, Executive Director of BioNova.
There are thirteen new recommendations listed in the report including an update which will allow directors, founders, and other investors with a vested interest in the company to benefit from the tax credits where they are currently excluded. The report also recommends providing early stage companies an opportunity to pivot their business plan if it will increase their chances of success while still being eligible for the IETC.
BioNova advocates on behalf of the sector for initiatives that are important to attract investment to the province. The IETC encourages investors to make equity capital investments in eligible Nova Scotian small and medium corporations, who are engaged in innovative activities that contribute to inclusive economic growth and increase investment in innovation.
Quotes
“The Innovation Equity Tax Credit changes that were announced in January of 2019 and referenced again in the provincial budget for 2019/20 made a significant impact on the amount of local funds raised in our most recent offering. We were encouraged to see local investors benefit from the new changes. We truly believe that these are the types of significant improvements that are needed to ensure the success of technology-based businesses like ours, so we look forward to this trend continuing.”
– Peter Hickey, Co-founder and Executive Director, IR Scientific
“We’re hoping that our efforts to improve the business climate in Nova Scotia for innovation-driven entrepreneurship by doing things differently will continue to support economic growth in the province.”
–Gerry Lacroix, Partner, Grant Thornton
View the full report “Continuing the Advantage: INNOVATION EQUITY TAX CREDITS and Stimulating Innovative Companies” here
About BioNova:
BioNova leads the economic development of Nova Scotia’s growing health and life sciences sector. Since 1993, BioNova has been accelerating the growth of its member companies to commercialize life-changing research to improve healthcare, provide healthier food, and develop sustainable solutions. BioNova champions the sector’s cluster of world-class research facilities, incubator programs, and companies who, together, bring investment and jobs to Nova Scotia.
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For further information, media may contact:
Shana Cristoferi
Marketing Manager, BioNova
902-421-5705
[email protected]
Click here to download the BioPort and BioNova Logos.