Final Thoughts /HDGLQJWKHZD\ How Nova Scotia’s Innovation Hub is changing the bioeconomy game By Rod Badcock A s the federal and provincial govern-ments start to shift their focus away from the immediate needs of the pandemic to economic recovery, growing the bioeconomy is a priority. The global bioeconomy is growing at a rapid pace, and Nova Scotia is emerging as a leader. Nova Scotia’s bioeconomy is a regen-erative system of sectors made up of new and innovative organizations developing sustainable uses for bioresources and bio-technology. Together, we are creating value from the province’s underutilized renew-able resources from the forestry, agriculture, oceans, and solid waste sectors. This interconnected, circular economy sources, distributes, uses, reuses and finds new applications for renewable bioresourc-es. The bioeconomy lowers our environ-mental impact and greenhouse gas emis-sions, providing Nova Scotia with a unique opportunity to build resilience and drive export growth. search and development and technology sector that is fuelling innovation nationally and internationally. This growing innova-tion ecosystem has attracted interest from existing, like-minded businesses in the province that have the desire and capaci-ty to act as hosts for bioeconomy projects, offering feedstocks, brownfield sites for co-location, financial resources and other valuable synergies. When you add in competitive business costs and a great quality of life that helps attract key talent, you have the ingredients needed to support growing businesses in the bioeconomy. HOW WE SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF THE BIOECONOMY GAME-CHANGING WORK COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES We believe that there is no better place to do business than in Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia is blessed with several com-petitive advantages that help support the growth of the bioeconomy. First, we are strategically located among major North American, European and Asian markets. Halifax is the closest major port to Europe, and in close proximity to the Great Circle Route. In addition to access to global contain-er ports, Nova Scotia’s renewable resource sectors represent a significant portion of the provincial economy. The province has a long history of sustainable management in its forest, agriculture, and ocean sectors, balancing the economic, environmental, and social benefits of natural resources. Nova Scotia boasts a highly educated workforce that feeds into a thriving re-The Nova Scotia Innovation Hub (NSIH) is dedicated to the growth of the bioeconomy in Nova Scotia. We provide a supportive ecosystem, fostering strong collaboration amongst industry, government, and bio-economy companies. Simply put, we create and promote best-in-class, investment-ready conditions for a low-carbon bioeconomy. Here’s how we do it: • We drive innovation through renewable resources. The bioeconomy harnesses underutilized, renewable resources to fuel economic growth. We are committed to improving and advancing local resources. • We are responsible, sustainable, and smart. This isn’t just about growing the economy – it’s about building a clean economy that is responsible, competitive, and exportable. • We grow rural economies. The bioeconomy has tremendous poten-tial to provide economic opportunities in rural areas, while supplying sustainable, low-carbon alternative products to world markets. At the Nova Scotia Innovation Hub, we support our clients with detailed business case development, providing in-depth re-search conducted on feedstock availability, market opportunities and brownfield sites that are potential co-locations for manufac-turing operations. We provide clients with access to our network of feedstock, manufacturing, mar-ket, and financial partners interested in collaborating with bioeconomy businesses. We also help build an advocacy commu-nity and advance awareness of new proj-ects, collaborations, and the bioeconomy as a whole, through initiatives such as our webinar series “Sustainable Revenues from Sustainable Products.” Additionally, the NSIH offers financial and in-kind support to help bioecono-my businesses achieve commercialization milestones that are critical to their success and growth. Some of the game-changing compa-nies in Nova Scotia we work with include Sustane Technologies, which processes municipal waste into value-added energy products; Maskwiomin, which produces birch bark extract-infused creams, lotions and soaps for skin care based on ethical-ly commercialized traditional Mi’kmaq knowledge; Oberland Agriscience, which produces protein using soldier flies that consume organic wastes and by-prod-ucts; and Outcast Foods, which produces high-value nutritional powders from sur-plus produce. To learn more about how the NSIH is helping to develop Nova Scotia’s bioeocno-my, visit us at www.novascotiainnovation-hub.com or contact us at [email protected].• Rod Badcock is executive director of the Nova Scotia Innovation Hub. SPRING 2021 22 Canadian BIOMASS
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