Nova scotia has always
proudly proclaimed that it has the best educated people in Canada. Indeed, there are more universities per capita in Nova Scotia than anywhere else in Canada. We have only about 3.5% of the country’s population, but 12% of its universities. Not surprisingly, the province’s capital city has the highest proportion of graduates from trade schools, colleges or universities in the country.

The difficulty has been transforming that brain power into business savvy. The government is convinced it can be done, and backs its convictions with some financial clout in an effort to prop up and propel the struggling life sciences sector. It is being cautious, however, and putting its money where the odds are best.

Rapid HIV-test manufacturer MedMira Laboratories Inc., which has gained an impressive foothold in China, is getting a $2-million loan guarantee from the province to help the company expand its sales abroad and enhance its R&D at home. The money is expected to help create 50 new jobs and “expand the province’s life sciences sector,” according to the Office of Economic Development.

Ocean Nutrition Canada, a leading nu-traceutical company that has discovered there is gold in fish extracts and seaweed, is building a $21.5-million manufacturing plant in Dartmouth with a little help from its friends in government — and this is only phase one of the company’s proposed expansion program.

The government says the money it is pumping into Ocean Nutrition Canada’s new 40,000-square-foot production plant will help create 520 jobs, many in rural Nova Scotia.

This is only the beginning, says Ernest Fage, the province’s minister of economic development. “We expect additional spin-offs … including increased R&D activity in the life-sciences industry in Nova Scotia.”

Which brings us to the government’s newest shining star: a “bright ideas fund” designed to turn R&D into cold, hard cash. Researchers who want to prove their concepts can be turned into successful products and services are now eligible for $275,000 through this new early-stage commercialization funding program.

The program, which started as a pilot project at Acadia University, is being expanded to include all 11 universities in the province and Nova Scotia Community College. It is an opportunity to fill the gap that exists at the very beginning of the commercialization phase, says Fage. “More than 80% of Nova Scotia’s research is done on our university and college campuses. Helping to advance that research and innovation is important to the economy and to our quality of life.”

He’s right. Life sciences companies and supporting infrastructure are a good fit for Nova Scotia, but attempts to grow the sector have been slow to take off and the potential has never been realized. BioNova, the province’s biotechnology and life sciences industry association, says Nova Scotia’s life sciences sector is enjoying a healthy adolescence and is growing at twice the national rate.

The hope is that it will hit adulthood soon. It’s unlikely that $275,000 is going to contribute significantly to the growth spurt. On the other hand, it certainly isn’t going to hurt.

In the meantime, companies such as MedMira and Ocean Nutrition Canada are helping to spread the good word around the globe, with a little financial help from the powers that be. IE