Innovation Week 2022 creates an opportunity for techNL to raise awareness, create connections, and showcase innovators while creating a foundation for a strong tech sector ecosystem in Newfoundland and Labrador. To celebrate Innovation Week, the Provincial Government, through the Innovation and Business Investment Corporation, today announced nearly $805,000 in funding support for four projects.
Martak Canada is a provincial company focused on providing quality products and services to the global shrimp processing industry. To assist with the second phase of its innovative ProPeeler technology, Martak received $131,900 through the Innovation and Business Investment Corporation. This innovative project will further enhance the ProPeeler’s vision system through the use of artificial intelligence, allowing the company to progress to the commercialization stage. The company is also receiving advisory services and up to $406,156 in research and development funding from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program in support of the project.
SmartICE is an award-winning social enterprise that works in partnership with communities, academia, industry and government to provide a near real-time sea ice monitoring and information service that blends Inuit traditional knowledge with state-of-the-art technology. To support the development of the next generation of its SmartBUOY technology, SmartICE received $400,181 through the Innovation and Business Investment Corporation. This funding will allow the SmartBUOY to be more robust and provide a wider range of environmental information for communities in Canada’s north as well as to industrial clients.
ReportMate is an artificially intelligent platform that transforms medical file processing. To support the company’s project to improve medico-legal report writing using techniques such as Optical Character Recognition and Natural Language Processing, ReportMate received $192,414 through the Innovation and Business Investment Corporation. ReportMate is also receiving advisory services and up to $240,000 in research and development funding from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program in support of the project.
EcoBloc is an ultrasonic rodent exclusion solution that is more humane than traps, safer than poisons, environmentally sustainable, and completely inaudible to humans. To assist with expanded marketing solutions such as distribution, product design, and internationalization efforts, EcoBloc received a non-repayable contribution of $83,975 through the Innovation and Business Investment Corporation. This funding support will allow the company to obtain business development software, purchase industry association membership fees, attend trade shows and develop marketing materials.
From October 4 to 6, industry leaders, partners, stakeholders and students will collaborate, network and celebrate the ninth annual Innovation Week in the province. The technology and innovation sector is a significant employer, with approximately 600 firms and over 8,000 employees in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Quotes
“While I am dealing with the devastation from Hurricane Fiona, I still want to acknowledge Innovation Week in our province. With limitless growth potential, the tech sector has grown into one of our provinces most influential and flourishing sector assets, and these four projects certainly demonstrate the depth and diversity of our emerging industry.”
Honourable Andrew Parsons
Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology
“The support, mentorship and funding ReportMate received through the Innovation and Business Investment Corporation and the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program have been instrumental in helping us scale and launch our company – after making our first hires in 2021, we are projected to grow to a team of 16 by the end of 2022, and this scale up would not have been possible without the collaboration and support of these organizations. Technology is going to continue to play a big part in the growth and future of Newfoundland and Labrador. As a province we have a history of being innovative when things get tough, fighting and working hard to succeed, against all odds. I think we’ve seen that same spirit and drive put into every company within our tech sector and as a result I believe we will be known globally for our innovations, even more than we are today. We have created a supportive environment to help founders grow businesses in our province and the support from programs offered through the Innovation and Business Investment Corporation and the National Research Council of Canada are allowing us to compete on a global scale.”
Holly Hill
ReportMate Inc.
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Media contacts
Eric Humber
Industry, Energy and Technology
709-729-5777, 725-9655
erichumber@gov.nl.ca
Holly Hill
ReportMate
709-749-3480
holly@reportmate.ca