Partnership with an agri-technology-focused commercialization accelerator could help Brandon University tap into a new pool of expertise and funding.
The university has signed a memorandum of understanding with Guelph, Ont.-based business accelerator Bioenterprise Canada. The deal will support new commercialization opportunities for start-ups and growth-oriented companies in Western Manitoba, according to an early May release.
Why it matters: A national network that connects funding sources, researchers and local agri-food businesses is now available in western Manitoba.
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Bioenterprise Canada is a non-profit that has spent the last 20 years developing a network of experts, mentors, funders, researchers and industry partners and connecting that network with small and medium-sized agri-food businesses.
The organization has 350 similar partnerships across Canada. In Manitoba, these include the University of Manitoba, the Biosciences Association of Manitoba and the Enterprise Machine Intelligence and Learning Initiative.
The BU partnership is designed to give the university access to expertise, mentorship, funding and support opportunities through the Bioenterprise network. Proponents say the relationship could broaden the scope for research opportunities, spur innovations in food technology, agriculture, and agri-tech and help advance agricultural commercialization initiatives in the area.
“The Bioenterprise mandate is closely related to the key values of Brandon University, and we are excited to be part of their agriculture and agri-food commercialization network,” said Heather Duncan, associate president of research at BU.
“We look forward to a collaborative partnership that will be mutually beneficial and utilize our researchers’ expertise while exposing them to new opportunities and innovations in the food and agri-tech industry.”
In return, BU will add another piece to the Bioenterprise web of resources. University expertise will be part of the organization’s network and it will also be another rural voice, a perspective actively promoted by the university.
“Being on the Prairies, rural is our focus,” Duncan said. “We have our Centre for Rural Development and we have BU Cares, which is research in rural education. Manitoba is a rural province, and food production is our forte; we want to get in on the ground floor for any research that happens in that area.
“So [this partnership] is broadening our horizons and putting us in touch with new partners across Canada.”
Bioenterprise CEO Dave Smardon said this rural focus is important to his organization, particularly given the agricultural or agri-adjacent focus of the businesses his organization works with.
“It’s not just about the cities,” he said. “Businesses, organizations and researchers who are located in rural communities need to have access to the same types of expertise, services and funding that somebody in downtown Winnipeg, Toronto or Montreal would have. It’s part of establishing a more equitable continuity of service across the country.”
BU also notes the potential benefit for work placements, either for graduating students or co-op work.
“We’re always looking for co-op opportunities for students,” Duncan said. “Practical experience helps them so much once they’re out and graduated. So we’re hoping that this will generate some extra co-op experiences for students who are interested in agriculture and food production.”
The expansion into Westman is part of a Bioenterprise initiative started in June 2020, called Canada’s Food and Agri-Tech Engine.
“The idea here was to increase the collaboration, co-operation and knowledge of the ecosystem across the country,” Smardon said.
“You’re only as good as the experience and knowledge that’s available to you. The key for us is being able to tap into the resources that exist across the country. Brandon University is one such organization.”
