The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology:

Mr. Speaker, COVID-19 has tested the limits of small business in our province, across the country and around the world. In the face of such challenges – many local businesses have been working hard to adjust – proving their resilience by pivoting in innovative ways to continue to reach clients and serve both here and abroad. I would like to take a moment to highlight just a few of these remarkable companies.

PolyUnity– a medical tech start-up formed by three Memorial University medical students – has shifted its product offerings and are now using its technology to develop personal protective faceshields for frontline healthcare workers.

JRAS Medical Inc – has created a version of its product, which originally assisted congestive heart failure patients in a clinical setting, to now allow patients to use it from home, reducing the risk of exposure to COVID-19 at a clinic and reducing patient load.

BioAtlantic Medical Services – has recently increased its focus on automating ventilators to help hospitals prepare for COVID19. And TotaliQ has offered a free version of its software aimed at sharing health and safety information related to COVID-19.

These are just a few examples of the adaptability of our local companies. We commend these leaders for their creativity and ingenuity to find solutions together and adjust to our changing world. We will continue to work with our province’s innovation ecosystem.

Thank-you.