Government of Canada invites small businesses to develop computer tools for vaccine matching

OTTAWA, Sept. 3, 2019 /CNW/ - As the single largest purchaser of goods and services, the federal government is using procurement to help Canadian small businesses succeed.

Through the Innovative Solutions Canada program, government departments are inviting small businesses to propose a new innovative solution that addresses a specific challenge they face. Successful small businesses may receive up to $150,000 to refine their research and development and could, if accepted into Phase 2, receive up to $1 million to develop a working prototype. The government can then act as a first customer, which helps small businesses to commercialize their innovations, scale up their business and create good middle-class jobs across Canada.

Today, the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, and the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion, announced the launch of a new challenge from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

CFIA is challenging small businesses to develop a computer model that will help specialists determine which vaccination strain would be most successful at preventing and controlling foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in livestock (cattle, sheep and swine). A successful solution to this challenge would use predictive technology to identify viral strains that can be used as vaccines to protect livestock in the event of an outbreak of the disease.  

Innovative Solutions Canada is a key component of the government's Innovation and Skills Plan, a multi-year plan to make Canada a global innovation leader and prepare Canadians to succeed in tomorrow's economy.

Quotes

"Our government is using its purchasing power to help small businesses innovate and become more competitive. Through Innovative Solutions Canada, the government is able to access quality, innovative products that help solve some of our most pressing challenges, while businesses are able to grow and create good middle-class jobs."

– The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development

"This is a small business–friendly government that is working hard to reduce red tape and make it easier for Canadian small business owners to start up, scale up and access new markets. Innovative Solutions Canada is a fantastic program that uses government procurement to help small businesses develop and then commercialize their innovations. This is a worthy new challenge, and I can't wait to see the ideas from Canadian small businesses. When small businesses in communities across the country succeed, our economy grows and middle-class jobs are created."

– The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion

Quick facts

• Foot-and-mouth disease is a severe viral disease of cattle, sheep and swine that poses a serious threat to the agricultural sector due to its highly contagious nature.
• Different viral strains can be stored in vaccine banks, but there is currently no accurate computational system that predicts which strain will be most successful at preventing or controlling the disease after an outbreak.
• Program funding comes mainly from the 20 departments and agencies participating in Innovative Solutions Canada.
• Each of the 20 participating departments and agencies will set aside funding for this initiative that amounts to one percent of its 2015–16 combined procurement and intramural research and development expenditures. Together, the funding from the departments and agencies represents an annual investment of over $100 million over the course of five years.
• In Budget 2018, the Government of Canada announced the consolidation of innovation programs. As part of this exercise, the Build in Canada Innovation Program, managed by Public Services and Procurement Canada, was integrated into Innovative Solutions Canada. Innovators can sign up to receive updates on the Innovative Solutions Canada program.
• There are hundreds of programs and services that offer everything from funding to expert advice to help businesses innovate, create jobs and grow Canada's economy. Using a simple, story-based user interface, the Innovation Canada platform can match businesses with the most fitting programs and services in about two minutes.

Associated link

• Innovative Solutions Canada Challenges

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SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada