NSAC is one of 18 post-secondary institutional members of Springboard Atlantic Inc. to benefit from an investment from the Government of Canada.

On April 18 in Halifax, NS, the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), announced the investment of $8.5 million from ACOA’s Atlantic Innovation Fund (AIF) to Springboard Atlantic Inc.

Springboard Atlantic Inc. is a not-for-profit organization with a mandate to support the commercialization of research in Atlantic Canada through direct financial contributions to technology transfer activities by its members. Its members include 14 universities and four community colleges.

David Fullerton, NSAC’s Industry Liaison Officer, says that this funding is vital for supporting technology transfer and commercialization research activity at universities. “This funding is particularly important to bring our discoveries and inventions to the agriculture industry and beyond,” says Fullerton. “In recent years, NSAC has seen an increasing amount of research with commercial potential. The continuation of funding to Springboard Atlantic Inc, will allow us to protect our intellectual property and commercialize them through our industrial partners.”

The funding will also help Springboard Atlantic Inc. continue to foster collaboration and provide network programs and services to partnering post-secondary institutions. It will also be used to establish a central co-ordinating office in Halifax.

The full ACOA press release can be found here.