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ACOA AIF invests 5 9 million in UNB research

Author: Communications

Posted on May 24, 2013

Category: UNB Saint John , UNB Fredericton

The Government of Canada recently announced that three research projects at the University of New Brunswick will be awarded a total of $5.9 million.

The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) Atlantic Innovation Fund (AIF) will assist the university to carry out three projects: develop hardware, software and MRI measurement tools to help detect and extract oil and gas; develop an IT toolset to identify potential risks and threats to computer systems; and develop natural fibre-based wraps for pulp baling and carton box strapping, as a renewable and cost-effective packaging alternative.

The UNB projects were among 17 new R&D projects in Atlantic Canada selected to receive AIF funding, as announced on May 14, in Summerside, PEI, by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. In total, the Government of Canada will invest $39.9 million under the AIF to transform promising ideas into marketable innovations. The combined value of these projects is over $71.1 million.

A list of the UNB projects is below.  For media interview requests, contact Natasha Ashfield.

Bruce Balcom, director of UNB's MRI Research Centre and professor of physics received approximately $2.5 million to develop hardware, software and MRI measurement tools to be used by industry to enhance detection and extraction of hydrocarbons, including oil, gas, shale oil and gas, most notably from unconventional and marginal reservoirs.

Yonghao Ni, chemical engineering professor and director of UNB's Limerick Pulp and Paper Centre received approximately $1.5 million to develop a stronger, less expensive, natural fibre-based packaging alternative to plastics, wire, and less durable paper products traditionally used in the packaging manufacturing sector.

Ali Ghorbani, dean of the faculty of computer science and director of UNB's Information Security Centre received approximately $1.8 million to address security breaches and vulnerabilities that compromise critical information system infrastructure. The project involves developing an intelligent toolset for automated security analysis and risk management for large-scale computer systems.

These research initiatives would not be possible without the collaboration of our partners, including Q1Labs/IBM working with Dr. Ghorbani; Oval International working with Dr. Ni; and Green Imaging, Saudi Aramco and Conoco Phillips working with Dr. Balcom.

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