ARCHIVED - Thorold-based Norgen Biotek Corporation to develop novel medical testing kits for use in small and remote Canadian communities

February 23, 2011 — Ottawa, Ontario

A Thorold company will be hiring new staff as they expand their business into the medical testing field. The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for Science and Technology, along with Rick Dykstra, Member of Parliament for St. Catharines, today announced an investment in Norgen Biotek, to help the company produce testing kits that will help improve the diagnosis and reduce the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis, particularly in small and remote Canadian communities.

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

Canada’s Economic Action Plan provided new resources of $200 million to the National Research Council’s Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) over two years to support innovative Canadian firms. To learn more, visit Canada’s Economic Action Plan website. 

Through (NRC-IRAP), Norgen Biotek Corporation will receive up to $817,812 to develop two projects to create new diagnostic test kits. The first project will develop two rapid detection systems for sexually transmitted diseases, especially for use in resource-limited areas. The second project includes the development of two diagnostic test kits for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, one being DNA-based and the other, antigen-based. The company employs 19 people and is expecting to hire 11 more in the next year. 

"This announcement is good news for the Niagara region, as it means that Norgen Biotek and its employees will have an opportunity to build on their success and contribute to our economy," said MP Dykstra. "The health testing kits will be developed in our region, and benefit families in small communities across Canada." 

“The relationship between NRC-IRAP and Norgen Biotek Corporation has been extremely productive” said Dr. Yousef Haj-Ahmad, President of Norgen Biotek Corporation. “We owe a great deal of our success to the Industrial Research Assistance Program, which has provided us with the necessary help during our projects. We have had wonderful experiences and are grateful for their continuing support.”

Headquartered in Thorold, Ontario, Norgen Biotek Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets a wide range of products that service the biological research market, including the area of research diagnostics. The company is moving into the diagnostic marketplace, and currently has clients worldwide from universities, government institutes, pharma/biotech companies, and hospital research labs. 

About the National Research Council of Canada and its Industrial Research Assistance Program  

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

The program is delivered by a field staff of 240 professionals in more than 100 communities across Canada. The National Research Council of Canada 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.

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