GRAND FALLS (GNB) – The provincial and federal governments are making a combined investment of more than $1.1 million in the Biorefinery Scale-up Centre in Grand Falls. The centre is part of the Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick, Edmundston campus.
"Bioscience is one of six growth sectors identified in our plan to rebuild New Brunswick's economy," said Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Martine Coulombe. "Our investment in innovation at the Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick Biorefinery Technology Scale-up Centre will help create and protect jobs in New Brunswick communities."
Coulombe was speaking on behalf of Economic Development Minister Paul Robichaud.
"Our government is proud to help the Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick Biorefinery Technology Scale-up Centre acquire new equipment and systems designed to support its research and development activities," said Tobique-Mactaquac MP Mike Allen. "This work is aimed at helping our agriculture and agri-food companies to grow and diversify in a highly competitive marketplace. By supporting research and innovation, we are enhancing the competitiveness and productivity of our industries and the vitality of our communities."
Allen was appearing on behalf of Bernard Valcourt, associate minister of national defence and minister of state for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and La Francophonie.
The provincial government is investing $313,215, while the federal government is contributing $857,466 though ACOA’s Innovative Communities Fund. The college is providing $625,613 through project revenues and $260,254 in kind.
"The Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick shares the vision of its funding partners regarding the potential of the bioscience sector to transform the traditional resource-based industries in the province into world-class competitive opportunities," said Liane Roy, president and chief executive officer of the college. "The college welcomes this recent financial investment to complement further existing resources that are focused on supporting New Brunswick entrepreneur transition into the biorefining sector."
As part of Phase One of this project, the provincial and federal governments announced in 2011 support for the Edmundston campus to acquire new biomass energy equipment to perform research on biotechnology product options for the natural resources sector.
The additional funding announced today will enable the centre to proceed with the remaining two phases of the initiative:
● the purchase of a pilot scale biogas system to produce methane biogas from agriculture, marine, industrial and municipal organic waste; and
● the purchase of a pilot scale biodiesel system to produce diesel from a variety of oil products.
14-09-12
