NS Announces SME Vouchers
December 11th, 2013
Fifty-one small businesses are getting help to get a new product or service closer or to market.
The businesses are receiving vouchers, or credit notes, for professional support and advice from Nova Scotia universities and colleges, as part of the province’s Productivity and Innovation Voucher Program.
“With these vouchers, 51 small businesses from across Nova Scotia will benefit from the wealth of expertise available at our universities and colleges,” said Michel Samson, Minister of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism. “These businesses are great examples of the entrepreneurial spirit that exists within our province and I am pleased we can support them.”
Forty-one are first-time recipients of up to $15,000 vouchers for advice and services from academic experts in areas such as applied research, engineering services, field testing, prototyping, product design and feasibility studies to help move a new product or service to market.
SkySquirrel Technologies Inc., based in Cap Le Moine, Inverness Co., is one of the recipients. It develops technologies for small, unmanned aircraft. It will work with the Université Sainte-Anne on a feasibility study to identify potential markets for commercial drones, such as search and rescue missions and agricultural.
“Our unmanned aircraft technology has applications in many different market sectors, each with specific needs,” said Richard van der Put, co-founder and research and development director, SkySquirrel Technologies Inc. “The voucher program is fantastic for a young company like ours as it allows us to expand our knowledge of future customers and develop the right product for the right application.”
“Working with Université Saint-Anne has been a great experience so far, and we are excited to expand the collaboration through this program.”
Ten businesses are getting vouchers of up to $25,000 to help build on work from a previous voucher. Schoolhouse Gluten-Free Gourmet Ltd., of Mahone Bay, will work with nutrition experts at Mount Saint Vincent University to expand their products by developing a gluten-free, easy-to-digest craft beer.
“We’re hoping to change the way people think about gluten-free beer,” said Jennifer Laughlin, co-owner of Schoolhouse. “Bottling our first batch for Nova Scotian consumers is still in the future — but this voucher, and our partnership with Dr. Bohdan Luhovvy, brings us a big step closer to our goal of making a delicious, easy-to-digest beer.”
More than 240 businesses have received vouchers since the program started in 2008.
“CBU is very pleased to be working with a dynamic group of voucher recipients again this year,” said Dr. Dale Keefe, dean of research and graduate studies, Cape Breton University. “The voucher program has consistently proven to be a valuable award which helps our university strengthen existing partnerships and form new industry-university collaborations that enable our faculty and students to provide R and D expertise to industry.”
Other participating universities and colleges are:
— Acadia
— Dalhousie, including its agricultural campus in Truro
— Nova Scotia College of Art and Design
— Nova Scotia Community College
— Saint Mary’s
— St. Francis Xavier
To be eligible, businesses must be registered to operate in Nova Scotia and have less than 100 employees when they apply. For more information on the voucher program, visit www.gov.ns.ca/econ/pnivouchers.
TIER 1 VOUCHER RECIPIENTS
CAPE BRETON
Health Outcomes Worldwide, New Waterford
Kearns International Ltd., North Sydney
Premium Choice Shrimp Ltd., Arichat
SkySquirrel Technologies Inc., Cap Le Moine
NORTHERN NOVA SCOTIA
AgriBioFuels Ltd., Bible Hill
ALL SAUCED UP, Truro
Blue Water Sales and Service Ltd., Valley
Cornect Family Farm, New Glasgow
FiddleHop Farms, Truro
Grapell Bioenergy Ltd., Truro
Nature’s Natural Solutions Skin Care, Antigonish
NRG Sports Inc., Antigonish
Spicy Cravings, Harmony
TruLeaf Sustainable Agriculture Ltd., Bible Hill
HALIFAX REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY
Clear Picture Corp., Halifax
Creative Kids Education Centre Inc., Hammonds Plains
Design On Polymers Inc., Halifax
Dyagen Technologies Inc., Dartmouth
GeoSpectrum, Technologies Inc., Dartmouth
Ion Biomedical, Halifax
JCN Performance Consulting Ltd., Halifax
Reno Sub-Systems Canada Inc., Halifax
Scotia Weather Services Inc., Darmouth
Seaforth Engineering/Seaforth Geosurveys, Dartmouth
Stromline Technologies, Halifax
Turbulent Research Inc., Dartmouth
ANNAPOLIS VALLEY, DIGBY
BIKE Scientific Inc., Digby
Charles Keddy Farms Ltd., Kentville
D & M Lightfoot Farms Ltd., Wolfville
Farm Girl Preserves, Canning
Fiske’s Horse Care Products Ltd., Windsor
Frostbyte Interactive Inc., Wolfville
IEP – Integrated Energy Products, Annapolis Royal
Meander River Farm, Newport
Soluna Energy, Bridgetown
Sustainable Blue, Burlington
SOUTH WESTERN NOVA SCOTIA
C.S. Elliot Trading Company Ltd., Yarmouth
Joenickelle Aqua-culture Farms, Saulnierville
Nova West Laboratory Ltd., Saulnierville
Ocean Pride Fisheries Ltd., Wedgeport
Sister Ann Fisheries, Yarmouth
TIER 2 VOUCHER RECIPIENTS
CAPE BRETON
Bioenergy, Dominion
J&K Scientific, Sydney
Lobsters R Us, St. Peter’s
Stomp Labs, Sydney
HALIFAX REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY
CBWES, Hammonds Plains
Chelation Partners, Halifax
Lightsail Energy, Halifax
Murphy’s Sailing Tours, Halifax
ANNAPOLIS VALLEY, DIGBY
Pie R Squared, Wolfville
SOUTHWESTERN NOVA SCOTIA
Schoolhouse Gluten-free Gourmet, Mahone Bay