Canadian Feds sink $1.4 million in Alberta research

The federal government
said Tuesday it will give
$1.4 million to fund
high-tech projects in
Alberta and protect the
province’s university
research.

Tamara Gignac
Calgary Herald

"Alberta has one of the
world’s leading research
frameworks. It’s in a
preferred position in North
America and
internationally," said
Stephen Owen, the
secretary of state for
western economic
diversification.

"It’s important that we not only nurture research but also provide intellectual property
protection, help with strategic business plans and link the financing and venture
capital."

The funding will give $1 million to Inno-Centre Alberta, a not-for-profit organization
that finances struggling technology firms and coaches entrepreneurs.

Western Economic Diversification Canada — a federal body with a mandate to grow
businesses in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba — is also contributing
$400,000 to the province’s biggest universities.

Both University Technologies International Inc., a private company founded by the
University of Calgary and the University of Alberta’s Industry Liaison Office will
receive $200,000 to protect the intellectual property of its researchers, Owen said.

UTI and ILO were created to bring innovative products from the lab to the
marketplace. Together, both organizations have spun off 114 companies — including
Wi-Lan Inc., Cell-Loc Inc. and Oncolytics Biotech Inc. — that employ more than 1,500
workers.

"This (funding) allows them to further develop their ability to link the research being
done at universities into new high-tech companies. It’s really to give them another
boost to do what they’re already doing very well," Owen said.

Oleh Hnatiuk, UTI’s chief executive, said he’s pleased to see the government take a
proactive role in assisting Alberta entrepreneurs.

As research grows at the university, there’s a greater need to protect its intellectual
property in order to maximize commercialization opportunities down the road, he
said.

Hnatiuk said UTI will use the money to patent some of its latest research in the hopes
of seeing future revenue and benefitting Canadians.

"We truly believe that one of the best means of getting the research conducted at
universities into society is through commercialization," he said.

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