Renewed partnership powering local job creation and skills development
Halifax, NS — The Government of Nova Scotia is investing up to $1 million dollars in Mitacs, a national not-for-profit organization that fosters growth and innovation in Canada by solving business challenges with research solutions from academic institutions.
The funding will support up to 250 internships for university and college students to work with local businesses. These valuable experiential learning opportunities will see students transfer their skills from theory to real-world applications, while private-sector organizations will gain competitive advantages by accessing high-quality research expertise.
NovaResp Technologies is a Halifax-based spinoff company started by a former Mitacs intern. The company has developed a respiratory monitoring device and algorithm focused on predictive lung health through AI. The company’s lead product can help positive airway pressure machines respond proactively through tailored preemptive therapy, resulting in a safer, more comfortable solution for patients suffering from respiratory distress caused by COVID-19, sleep apnea, and other respiratory complications.
Projects supported by this renewed funding will take place across sectors and disciplines, including, oceans, science and technology, information and communications technology, clean technology, financial services, life sciences, aerospace and defence, health and wellness, resource sectors, and social innovation.
This collaboration is part of Nova Scotia’s Science and Industry Pathway initiative, which focuses on attracting and retaining skilled talent to support the growth of the knowledge-based economy across the country.
Quotes:
The Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Labour and Advanced Education, Nova Scotia
“We are proud to support Mitacs to deliver Nova Scotia’s Science and Industry Pathway internships, creating valuable opportunities for post-secondary students to connect with businesses right here in Nova Scotia. We need innovation and entrepreneurship now more than ever to move our province forward. These students are building their futures here, while bringing innovative ideas and new possibilities to the organizations that hire them.”
Dr. Alice Aiken, Vice-President, Research & Innovation, Dalhousie University
“Dalhousie has a long history of working with Mitacs to enhance academic experiences and create opportunities for the application of great thinking. Partnering with Mitacs allows us to create and fund opportunities for our students to advance Canadian innovation by connecting them with organizations where research can be tested and applied in real-world settings.”
Dr. Hamed Hanafi, former Mitacs intern, and founder, NovaResp Technologies
“Thanks to my Mitacs internship, I gained invaluable experience as a postdoctoral fellow working with the team at DMF Medical. I learned about running an early-stage company and I became determined to help others live healthier lives through innovation. These experiences allowed me to leverage the Mitacs program and create NovaResp, which is making respiratory therapy safer and more effective through artificial intelligence. Now, I have hired the next generation of Mitacs interns to help advance the R&D at NovaResp.”
Dr. John Hepburn, CEO and Scientific Director, Mitacs
“Mitacs’s presence in Nova Scotia has grown significantly over the past years thanks to a strong and productive relationship with the Ministry of Labour and Advanced Education. Partnering with the Government allows us to support economic growth and prosperity across the province and, indeed, around the country. Further, by working with our university and college partners we can connect local businesses with the talent and funding needed to solve their challenges.”
About Mitacs:
- Mitacs is a not-for-profit organization that fosters growth and innovation in Canada.
- Mitacs is funded by the Government of Canada and the Government of Nova Scotia, as well as every other province, a territory, post-secondary partners, industry and not-for-profit partners, and international partners.
- For information about Mitacs and our programs, see mitacs.ca/newsroom.
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