The semi-finalists have been announced for the 2017 BioInnovation Challenge (BIC).
Scott Moffitt, Managing Director of BioNova, the host of BIC, has announced the semi-finalists who will take part in the program. The semi-finalists will receive professional training between now and the semi-final run off, which will be held in Halifax on October 17.
The program is part of a regional collaboration between BioNova, BioNB and PEI BioAlliance, its sister organizations in NB and PEI. The program allows up and coming life sciences companies to compete in the challenge and kick start their success.
Lisa Pfister of PFERA Inc.
One of this year’s semi-finalists is Emergence client, PFERA, whose first product – a biotech chemistry plus IT solution – allows horse breeders to more accurately predict birthing in mares.
PFERA’s patent-pending product includes technology that interprets milk analysis of mares and reduces the variability of results from 61% down to 3-7%. (Read more about PFERA here!)
Two of the semi-finalists from the 2016 BioInnovation Challenge – Chinova Bioworks and SomaDetect, both from Fredericton, New Brunswick – are current Emergence incubator clients.
“We’re very excited about this year’s BioInnovation Challenge,” said Moffitt. “We have a number of brand new semi-finalists which shows that, year over year, this region is producing great life science ideas and great innovators.”
Moffitt also notes that, “we are continuing to see exciting, new innovations as the BioInnovation Challenge evolves to offer more and more support for early stage companies.”
The 2017 semi-finalists include:
- Tieös Pharmaceuticals Inc. from New Brunswick
- Neck Tronics Inc. from Nova Scotia
- iPSNP Computing Inc. from New Brunswick
- Heterogeneous Nanosystems Ltd. from Nova Scotia
- Zecken Laboratories from New Brunswick
- ADDtext Inc. from Nova Scotia
- Pfera Inc. from New Brunswick
- Canuevo Biotech Inc. from New Brunswick
The winner of the BioInnovation Challenge will receive a $15,000 seed investment and a package of support services and mentoring valued at more than $30,000.
The 2017 BIC is presented by BioNova in partnership with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, BioNB, Emergence, Dalhousie University Industry Liaison and Innovation, Springboard Atlantic, Jennifer Cameron PR, JLT, Sandler Training and Grant Thornton.
BIC will take place over two days in October. The 8 semi-finalists will present to a panel of judges on October 17 at the Life Sciences Research Institute. The top three presenters will then pitch to the judges and the conference audience at BioPort Atlantic, BioNova’s annual conference, the following morning. The winner will be announced at the close of BioPort Atlantic on the afternoon of October 18.
BioPort Atlantic will take place at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel on October 17 and 18. Register here! BioPort provides a forum to educate, inform and inspire the life sciences community to develop their ideas, commercialize their technologies and build links within the region and with guests brought in from the US and from around the world.