Money is part of federal investment in 21 firms in Atlantic Canada
Protector USV
A day after the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency announced it was phasing out support for economic development agencies, Ottawa softened the blow by handing just over $12 million to innovative Nova Scotia companies.
The money is part of a $49-million investment in 21 innovative research and development projects in Atlantic Canada through the Atlantic Innovation Fund.
The six Nova Scotia recipients receiving funding were from the medical technology and marine sciences sectors.
“The variety of projects being funded in Nova Scotia speaks to the diversity of talent and expertise living and working in your province,” Defence Minister Peter MacKay said Wednesday while announcing the grants at a news conference in Dartmouth.
The biggest recipient is Rolls Royce Naval Marine Canada Ltd. The innovation fund is providing it with $3 million, which will be used in a $4.7 million project to automate the deployment of unmanned marine surface vessels for everything from detonating mines to checking for oil spills.
“It’s all about taking people out of harms way,” said Jay McFadyen, president of Rolls Royce Naval Marine.
His company now has 40 people working at its Dartmouth facility and expects to add more personnel as a result of the funding.
