Research & Development
Scientific research and development (R&D) in Saskatoon is conducted principally at the University of Saskatchewan and Innovation Place Research Park, both of which house many of Canada’s finest R&D facilities.
Local, national and international companies utilize the synchrotron, bio-processing facilities, fermentation plants, as well as structural science and telecommunication labs to increase competitiveness and reduce costs. This is complemented by local organizations assisting in the commercialization of new discoveries and processes.
The Government of Canada offers a Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax incentive program that encourages Canadian businesses of all sizes, and in all sectors to conduct R&D in Canada. It is the largest single source of federal government support for industrial R&D. The SR&ED program gives claimants cash refunds and/or tax credits for their expenditures on eligible R&D work done in Canada. Claimants can apply for tax credits for expenditures such as wages, materials, machinery, equipment, some overhead and SR&ED contracts.
Established in 1980, Innovation Place is one of the most successful university-related research parks in North America. The park is situated on 80 acres adjacent to the University of Saskatchewan, and builds on the institution's strengths in agriculture, information technology, and environmental and life sciences. Innovation Place is home to 150 clients, employing more than 2,700 people in 19 buildings across the park. Innovation Place is home to a range of new and value-added products, processes and technologies. It is a place where scientists and business professionals come together, where exploration and expertise go hand in hand, and where visionaries do more than dream, they create.
The Canadian Light Source synchrotron is one of the largest scientific projects in Canada, and is used for scientific research and for companies wishing to enhance their R&D capability. Producing light that is a million times brighter than sunlight, the synchrotron is much like a microscope, allowing scientist to study and understand the nature and structure of molecules and materials. Information obtained with a synchrotron can be used to help design new drugs, examine the structure of surfaces for developing more effective motor oils, build more powerful computer chips, and help with clean-up of mining wastes, to name just a few applications.
Support for Product Development and Technology Transfer
Local, national and international businesses have access to contract research facilities at the University of Saskatchewan and a number of other support and product development agencies. Locating in the Saskatoon Region has helped many companies improve their bottom line, as well as bring new inventions to the marketplace
Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Innovation Place Bio Processing Centre provides toll or custom processing on a contract basis for the natural health product, cosmetic, and agri-food industries. The plant has a wide range of wet processing equipment that is used to carry out extraction and/or fractionation of many different plant materials.
- National Research Council Plant Biotechnology Institute (NRC-PBI) promotes and conducts collaborative plant biotechnology research with universities, government departments, and biotechnology companies. It assists with transferring research to produce development and commercialization, and provides training for plant biotechnology scientists. The NRC/PBI Industry Partnership Facility is a 74,000 square foot expansion built to house incubation and research equipment for start-up plant-science companies.
- POS Pilot Plant Corporation is a confidential research and development facility specializing in developing bio-processing solutions.
- Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) houses the Fermentation Pilot Plant, GenServe Laboratories, and Bova-Can Laboratories.
- The Fermentation Pilot Plant focuses on the development, scale-up, optimization, and commercialization of new and existing products. SRC’s research professionals perform public and confidential contract research and development.
- GenServe Laboratories offers DNA testing services to agricultural and biotechnology industries. The services include high throughput DNA testing of plants and DNA fingerprinting of crops, trees, and micro-organisms. The laboratory also develops new molecular testing technologies on a contract basis.
- Bova-Can Laboratories provides diagnostic genetic services to the livestock industry. Its annual sales have reached $1.2 million.
- Toxicology Centre focuses on studying the adverse effects of chemical and physical agents on the aquatic system.
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) focuses on both human and animal vaccine research. VIDO also houses the International Vaccine Centre (InterVac), a $140 million vaccine research and development facility against diseases such as tuberculosis, West Nile virus and SARS.
Food Science
- The Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre assists with research and development of products, provides interim processing, and assists with regulations, marketing, distribution, and implementation of food quality assurance programs.
- The U of S College of Agriculture’s Department of Applied Microbiology and Food Science conducts chemical, biological and processing studies of food products for development and quality improvements.
Mining and Communications Technology
- Saskatchewan Structural Sciences Centre (SSSC) The SSSC is an $11.4 million multi-disciplinary research centre that complements the Canadian Light Source. It provides services for universities, government, and private sector.
- Telecommunications Research Laboratories (TRLabs) is Canada’s largest not-for-profit telecommunications research consortium. Its research is focused on data networking, network access, and network systems, photonics, and wireless communication.
