Activities
Ag-West Bio will provide a coordinated approach to capturing maximum economic, social, and environmental value for the province based upon Saskatchewan's comparative agro-ecological advantages – its abundant natural resources, its life science industry base, and its unique science and innovation infrastructure.
This will be achieved through six lines of business:
- Economic growth – We provide seed capital for start-ups or expanding companies and help in locating matching grants and investments. Our funding supports promising technologies at the early stages of development presenting too great a risk for private capital sources.
- Research and development facilitation – We offer a thorough understanding of current science and technology research along with market needs to identify strategic areas where Saskatchewan has a competitive advantage to optimize growth in the emerging bio-economy.
- Regulatory and policy development – By providing an industry perspective to government, we support the development of a transparent and efficient policy and regulatory framework allowing Saskatchewan-based industries to be globally competitive in the production and sale of safe, efficacious and environmentally friendly products.
- Business competitiveness – We help Saskatchewan organizations harvest the world for innovative research ideas, intellectual property and advanced technologies. We provide a centralized hub of market knowledge and intelligence with sector-based information, analysis, and training and development contributing to business growth and competitiveness.
- Communication, education and human resource development – We communicate sector issues, trends and opportunities to stakeholders, government and the general public. Our events and publications serve advocacy, educational, communication and public awareness objectives spanning local, national, and international audiences.
- Advocacy – Ag-West Bio acts as a representative of the life science industry, developing awareness, understanding and support for growth of this sector; all with an objective of enhancing Saskatchewan's image as a world-class R&D centre.