Prince Edward Island — Bioresources

To capitalize on a global nutrition market valued at more than $182 billion annually — and to address critical health issues affecting Canadians and the population worldwide, NRC has taken bold steps to turn PEI's established expertise in land and marine-based resources (bioresources) into a wide range of marketable products focused on disease prevention and therapy.

An NRC researcher studies a key protein found in poxviruses - an extremely important advancement in understanding how viruses interact with the host immune system.

Establishing a research hub

NRC technology advisors have been working to build PEI's cluster for the past several years, collaborating with researchers and industry to build commercially viable business opportunities. In 2006, NRC strengthened its presence in the community with its new Nutrisciences and Health research facility that has become a dynamic hub for PEI's emerging cluster, attracting top talent from the worldwide bioresources community. NRC's pioneering researchers are already exploring the impact of nutraceuticals and bioactive ingredients on neurological disorders, obesity-related disorders and infection and immunity. To date, researchers have published a host of articles in leading scientific journals and are involved in many collaborative research projects, including a long-term project on Alzheimer's Disease,with the University of Prince Edward Island.

Mapping a prosperous future

Growth in PEI's bioresources cluster has been impressive since 2001. That year, NRC participated in a cluster-development roadmap with federal and provincial agencies, the University of Prince Edward Island and several local bioresources companies. The roadmap, which included input from more than 100 North American industry and research experts,was a needsdriven, long-term technology planning exercise. It identified the most promising applications for bioresources R&D that would enable ambitious local stakeholders to convert federally funded research into profitable businesses well into the future.

		NRC CLUSTER INITIATIVE PARTNERS
		Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
		Province of Prince Edward Island (Technology PEI)
		University of Prince Edward Island
		Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
		PEI BioAlliance

Uniting stakeholders

The roadmap was designed to involve as much stakeholder input as possible. As a result, the biosciences community invested critical funding to undertake groundbreaking research into renewable bioactives. For its part, NRC has invested $20 million in world-leading staff, state-of-the-art equipment and innovative research projects. That investment has been leveraged with $8 million from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), $3.5 million from the provincial government, as well as a prime location provided by the University of Prince Edward Island. The NRC research facility can accommodate up to 100 staff, including scientists and support staff. It will also provide much needed technology incubation space for private sector companies seeking to develop and commercialize natural health products.

NRC-INH's initial core team of researchers.

Linking Local Talent

Since NRC embarked on its strategy to promote PEI as a worldwide centre for bioresources R&D, local linkages have grown swiftly:

• NRC has attracted top talent to form its core research team and has coordinated adjunct appointments for them with the University of Prince Edward Island.
• Building on existing linkages established by its Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP), NRC is continuing to strengthen relationships between researchers and SMEs within the bioresources cluster.
• NRC has hired technical officers, graduate students and research support staff to facilitate the work of its core research team.
• NRC regularly engages in public speaking events throughout PEI, hosts tours and meetings with associations and bioscience interest groups and promotes the province abroad at international research symposia.
• NRC has become a key member of the PEI BioAlliance, a multiparty organization dedicated to building the commercial potential of biosciences in PEI.

		MILESTONES IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
		2001 — Biotechnology roadmapping exercise begins
		2002 — Roadmap steering committee releases summary and recommendations
		2003 — Federal and provincial governments announce $31.5 million in funding for a Charlottetown-based nutrisciences and health research facility
		2003 — NRC hosts Inaugural Research Forum in Charlottetown
		2004 — NRC Nutrisciences and Health research program launched in temporary quarters
		2004 — Construction begins on NRC Nutrisciences and Health facility on UPEI campus
		2004 — NRC Nutrisciences and Health launches science outreach program "Like Science?"
		2005 — NRC joins new PEI BioAlliance
		2005 — NRC Nutrisciences and Health core research team established
		2005 — NRC Nutrisciences and Health hosts 'Open for Business' showcase for potential industry links
		2006 — Bioscience businesses begin collaborations with NRC Nutrisciences and Health - over 50% of incubator space is committed before facility opens
		2006 — NRC Nutrisciences and Health collaborates with three recent recipients of ACOA's Atlantic Innovation Fund (AIF): NRC and UPEI worked together to develop the Atlantic Centre for Bioactive Valuation – a company designed to evaluate natural compounds' ability to benefit human and animal health NRC, together with ACOA, was instrumental in attracting two private sector companies to the cluster (AIF recipients) and NRC is closely collaborating with each company These three projects represent a new investment of $13 million to the cluster
		2006 — Planning begins for NRC's international research conference "Nutrisciences and Health 2007 – Bioprospecting for Neuroprotectants," slated for July 2007

Transforming technology into business

NRC offers strategic services to businesses that wish to take their innovations to market — helping small businesses succeed.

Assisting with industrial research

The NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) — a national program aimed specifically at helping small and medium-sized businesses develop technologies for market — contributes technical expertise and funding to all NRC cluster initiatives, including PEI's.

NRC-IRAP has partnered with the PEI BioAlliance to establish a pilot program that offers customized business advisory services to local bioresources companies. Through a network of experts, the team will offer emerging companies critical support for business model development, regulatory processes, exit strategy planning and business execution. They will also pair large 'anchor' companies with small businesses in need of established industrial partners and sophisticated infrastructure.

		CLUSTER FACTS AT A GLANCE
		The North American market for nutritional products was valued at more than $27 billion in 2000
		The global market is currently valued at over $100 billion
		PEI is home to more than six major research organizations and a host of private-sector companies with expertise in life sciences
		NRC Nutrisciences and Health can house up to 100 individuals (research and support staff) and it offers incubation space for emerging bioresources companies

In addition to expertise, NRC brings advanced scientific equipment to the bioscience cluster on PEI.

"The importance of science and research cannot be overstated. There is much to be gained from having a (NRC) facility of this type, both in terms of knowledge investment and potential commercialization."

Pat Binns, Premier of Prince Edward Island

"This initiative has come about through a remarkable and sustained collaboration of the whole community, combining the private sector, government and the university with top-level leadership and broad-based enthusiasm. These are essential ingredients for a successful cluster."

Wade MacLauchlan, President and Vice-Chancellor, UPEI

Best available science and technology literature

NRC is a world leader in electronic publishing, and Canada's largest and best resource for scientific, technical and medical information.

NRC Information Centres across Canada offer technical and business users leading-edge information and business-related services. In 2005, the Centre in Charlottetown served nearly 250 NRC and external clients. Users were able to take advantage of:

• pioneering technical information
• literature searches
• cutting-edge industry and market information
• patent information
• rapid delivery of up-to-date full text articles from online sources
• referrals to industry experts or organizations

http://inh-isns.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca