16 février 2018 – Telegraph Journal

N.B. company and university to get a piece of $1-billion ‘supercluster’ fund

ADAM HURAS PARLIAMENT HILL

Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, has announced the ‘supercluster’ winners of a $950 million innovation fund, including an bid. PHOTO: DAX MELMER/POSTMEDIA NEWS

OTTAWA • An Atlantic bid to form a technology “supercluster” involving one of ’s largest seafood companies and its largest university has won a piece of up to $950-million in federal funding. The contest, a cornerstone of Ottawa’s so-called innovation agenda, aims to build what Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains calls “innovation hotbeds” with the potential to become made-in-Canada versions of tech-hub Silicon Valley. A bid for an “ Supercluster” from the Atlantic region was in the running. Of more than 50 proposals, involving more than 1,000 firms, nine were shortlisted last year. Bains then announced on Thursday that five superclusters - 16 février 2018 – Telegraph Journal including the Atlantic bid - will split the money designed to encourage academia and businesses to work together on strategies to boost fast-growing sectors. Bains says the Ocean Supercluster in Atlantic Canada will use emerging tech to increase competition in fisheries, oil and gas, other sectors. The lead proponents of the Atlantic bid include Petroleum Research Newfoundland and Labrador, along with dozens of other firms, including Emera Inc., Clearwater, Aspin Kemp and Associates, radient360 and Dalhousie University. New Brunswick-based multinational farmed salmon producer Cooke Aquaculture and the University of New Brunswick are also involved. Teledyne CARIS, a Fredericton ocean mapping software developer, the Huntsman Marine Science Centre in St. Andrews, Appnovation Technologies in Saint John and Université de have also stepped forward to join the cluster, according to Petroleum Research Newfoundland and Labrador COO David Finn. The partnership spans fisheries, aquaculture, oil and gas, marine bio products, transportation, defence, marine renewables, and ocean technology. “And more will join, Finn said on Thursday. Cooke said it is spending $15 million as a “top tier contributor” to the super-cluster. That will be matched dollar for dollar by the federal government. “Our company is committed to continuous improvement, innovation and investment in science to enable increased economic activity in rural and coastal communities in which we operate by creating thousands of lucrative full-time direct and indirect jobs,”Cooke spokesman Joel Richardson said. He added that research and development investments will 16 février 2018 – Telegraph Journal strengthen the company’s “global competitive advantage and long-term sustainability in providing safe and nutritious seafood products both domestically and internationally. Both Cooke and UNB said on Thursday that details are still to be ironed out about the supercluster’s road ahead. The Ocean Supercluster will now finalize the terms of a contribution agreement with the federal government. It will then formally establish a not-for-profit. Working groups and committees will be established to refine its objectives. “The University of New Brunswick is poised to play a significant role within the Ocean Supercluster,”David MaGee, acting vice-president of research at the University of New Brunswick said in an email. He said the university’s work will specifically focus on ocean data analytics, marine renewables and bioproducts, and marine additive manufacturing. “By establishing better links amongst large ocean-based companies along with smaller ocean technology partners, this collaboration will increase investment in innovation and accelerate the adoption of cutting-edge technology in Canada’s ocean industries,” Ma-Gee added.

Other winners • Scale AI Supercluster in to build intelligent supply chains through artificial intelligence and robotics • Advanced Manufacturing Super-cluster in Ontario to connect technology strengths to the manufacturing industry • Protein Industries Supercluster in the Prairies to work on making the country a leading source of plant proteins 16 février 2018 – Telegraph Journal

• Digital Technology Supercluster in British Columbia to use big data and digital technologies to unlock potential in health care, forestry, and manufacturing