The province of Ontario is investing $3-million over four years for a BioTechnology Hub in Sarnia-Lambton, creating 400-high value jobs.
The Minister of Research and Innovation, Reza Moridi made the announcement Friday morning at the UWO Research Park on Modeland Rd., Canada's largest clean-tech incubator.
Moridi says the province is investing to build a Centre of Excellence for the Commercialization of Sustainable Chemistry Innovations at the Research Park.
The centre will focus on bridging critical gaps and addressing commercialization challenges faced by the biotechnology sector.
"The Sarnia-Lambton area is the leader in the Chemical Industry in Canada and Ontario and I'm sure this particular area is also going to be the leader not only here but in the world as well," says Moridi.
"We need to make sure that the resources of the planet we are using are not unlimited, number one. Number two, that those resources are renewable. The way to go to that direction is to think about bio products, because they are the resources that can be recycled and reused. Those are renewable sources, so that's what's happening with the help of institutions such as Bioindustrial Innovation Canada."
Bioindustrial Innovation Centre Executive Director Murray McLaughlin says they've been operating on a shoesting budget for a while, so this funding really helps drive them to the next level.
"It will give us a chance to add a few employees as we move forward on this. It will give us a chance to focus more in the chemical side, but also, how do we attract the next BioAmber," says McLaughlin.
"That's one of the big things we're really looking at and there is a number of organizations out there we've touched on that we see is important for that."
McLaughlin says the centre is recognized globally now and people want to come to Sarnia. He says 25 people will visit from Germany this fall.
