ARCHIVED - Government of Canada invests in innovative small and medium-sized firms: Boreal Genomics Inc. and Day4 Energy Inc.

Canada's Economic Action Plan strengthens the economy and helps Vancouver businesses grow

July 22, 2010 — Vancouver, British Columbia

The Honourable Steven Fletcher, Minister of State for Democratic Reform and Member of Parliament for Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia, on behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), today announced contributions of $273,000 to Boreal Genomics Inc. and $496,000 to Day4 Energy Inc. from the National Research Council of Canada’s Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP).

The funding supports innovative research and development projects that will assist both firms in developing high-tech solutions for global markets.

“Our government is investing in science and technology to create good jobs, strengthen the economy and improve Canadians’ quality of life,” said Minister Fletcher. “This government is supporting Canadian firms that successfully develop and apply innovative technologies. Canada’s Economic Action Plan is supporting scientific research and commercialization, while creating good jobs and economic growth.”

The contribution to Boreal Genomics Inc. will help develop a new technology that can search for specific diseased DNA codes in blood or environmental samples. This will enable Boreal Genomics Inc. to develop new portable instruments for disease and cancer detection, allowing rapid diagnosis in hospitals and doctors’ offices. The contribution to Day4 Energy Inc. will support the development of a new photovoltaic cell and module that will decrease manufacturing costs, while increasing efficiency. This will eventually help bring solar energy closer to cost parity with conventional energy.

During the event, Minister Fletcher presented a Canadian Innovation Leader certificate to Heart Force Medical Inc., a company that develops non-invasive medical devices to assess cardiac performance, to highlight its success as innovative Canadian firms.  The Minister also presented Canadian Innovation Leader certificates to Boreal Genomic Inc. and Day4 Energy Inc.

Canada’s Economic Action Plan provided new resources of $200 million to NRC-IRAP over two years to support innovative Canadian firms. To learn more, visit Canada’s Economic Action Plan website.

About the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program

The NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program provides a range of both technical and business-oriented advisory services along with necessary financial support to qualified innovative Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises.

The program is delivered by a field staff of 240 professionals in more than 100 communities across Canada. The National Research Council is committed to working with small and medium-sized enterprises while they realize their full potential, turning knowledge and innovation into strategic opportunities, jobs and prosperity for all Canadians.

About the firms

Founded in 2006, Heart Force Medical develops non-invasive medical devices to assess cardiac performance by measuring and monitoring the mechanical action of the heart. Working with the Industrial Research Assistance Program since 2007, the company has developed the Heart Force dBG 300 Digital Ballistocardiograph, a device that measures the kinetic effects of cardiac contraction on the body to indicate the general health of an individual’s heart. It is a standalone, portable unit containing a sophisticated digital sensor that enables precise measurement of the timing events of the cardiac cycle. Heart Force continues to develop their proprietary Digital Ballistocardiograph technology to demonstrate its ability to assess cardiac function more accurately, more quickly and less expensively than other current technologies.

Boreal Genomics is a biotechnology tools company with exceptional technical strength and a demonstrated track record in innovation. The company integrates applied physics and engineering with biotechnology to develop new instruments for nucleic acid purification and detection based on their proprietary SCODA technology. The company was founded in 2007 as a spin-off from the University of British Columbia and now employs more than 20 staff. 

Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, Day4 Energy Inc. is a leading global provider of solar photovoltaic products and solutions. Active in the areas of research and design, manufacturing, technology licensing and all aspects of project management, Day4 Energy is enabling the growth of solar energy throughout the world. Since initial support from the Industrial Research Assistance Program in 2003, the company has grown from three to approximately 100 employees, and today is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

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Enquiries: Media relations
National Research Council of Canada
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