News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – Today four new research chairs were announced through the New Brunswick Innovation Research Chairs Initiative, representing an investment of $4.7 million over five years. The foundation administers the initiative for the provincial government.

Areas of research include new hybrid wood products for the construction of taller buildings; advanced methods for managing parasites and diseases in cultured and wild fish; automated drones and technology that will reduce the environmental and financial cost of forest management; and new microwave-based, non-invasive cancer detection processes and treatments.

“Job creation is our focus,” said Premier Brian Gallant. “For economic growth, we need to foster innovation. This initiative supports our commitment to leveraging new technologies and new ideas to create jobs and provide a significant boost to both our traditional and emerging industries.”

Today's announcement presented the remaining four of seven recipients selected through a selection process administered by the foundation. Each chair will receive $1 million in applied research funding over five years, plus two graduate research assistants and one research technician, valued at $175,000. The first three chairs, Erik Scheme, Nathalia Stackhanova and Marc Surette were announced in June 2014.

“These research positions will foster greater conditions for economic growth in our province by improving collaboration between the private sector and academia,” said Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Francine Landry. “Our government is committed to fostering an environment where our academic institutions can embark on research projects that create economic opportunities to benefit the entire province. This investment is an important part of how we plan to support our key industries through new innovative practices that will generate business opportunities and create jobs.”

Obtaining the chair was a highly-competitive process that required research institutes and universities to send letters of intent. That process resulted in finalists making a presentation before a selection committee.

"Turning research into enterprise is an important and strategic component of our business model at the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation, and part of our continuing expansion plan," said foundation chair Cathy Simpson. "Our investments have helped create more than 50 startup companies and fund more than 400 applied research projects. These new chairs demonstrate our commitment to being at the intersection of research and enterprise, and the direction we are taking to better uncover and accelerate unexploited opportunities for growth.”

The 2015 recipients are:

• Duane Barker – NB Innovation Research Chair in Innovative Aquatic Biosciences – Huntsman Marine Science Centre

Climate change, its associated ocean acidification, and industry pollution is threatening the traditional fishing industry. Barker's aim is to help New Brunswick aquatic industries overcome these challenges.

• Dedarul Alam – NB Innovation Research Chair in Precision Forestry – Northern Hardwoods Research Institute

The forest is a pillar of the New Brunswick economy, contributing $1.5 billion each year. Alam's work will help to maximize forest output while simultaneously maintaining its diversity. His innovative approaches to value-chain optimization and forest management will add value to this important sector while minimizing industrial impact on our forests.

• Ying Hei Chui – NB Innovation Research Chair in Advanced Wood Products – University of New Brunswick

The decline in the forestry sector has had a major financial impact on the provincial economy. In order to strengthen this economic powerhouse, Chui has created new wood-based products that can be used in mid-rise and non-residential buildings in Canada and export markets. These green, carbon-neutral products have the potential for more wide spread use, which would allow for more wood and hybrid construction materials in the future.

• Jocelyn Paré – NB Innovation Research Chair in Medical Technologies – Atlantic Cancer Research Institute

With New Brunswick’s aging population, the effects of cancer on healthcare costs, life expectancy and suffering, are continuing to increase. Paré is developing new, non-invasive treatments and more precise screening methods for detecting cancer.

The announcement comes during Innovation Week, a week dedicated to giving companies the opportunity to meet with provincial government officials and pitch their ideas for innovation in government. The government received more than 100 ideas from more than 80 companies through the Innovation Week portal. 

To learn more about the events and activities planned for Innovation Week visit the calendar of events on the website.

The New Brunswick Innovation Foundation is an independent, not-for-profit corporation that invests in new growth-oriented companies and applied research activities to help build an innovation-based economy for New Brunswick. Since its inception in 2003, the foundation has invested more than $50 million. It has helped to create more than 50 companies and fund 350 applied research projects.