April 26, 2007
$50,000 BioVenture Challenge Business Plan Competition Launched at U of S
Posted April 26, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 26, 2007
2007-04-13-OTHER
University of Saskatchewan alumni and students who aspire to launch and run their own bioproducts companies are being given a potential $50,000 boost with a new business plan competition offered through the U of S Industry Liaison Office (ILO) and Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food.
The Bioventure Business Plan Challenge invites aspiring entrepreneurs from among U of S alumni and students to submit their ideas for a business plan in the new bio-economy. Ideas can include products and processes for everything from nutraceuticals and biofuels to diagnostic tests, biocomposite plastics, and much more.
"The BioVenture Challenge targets one of the biggest challenges for those with innovative bio-economy ideas: the need for startup capital," says ILO managing director Doug Gill. "The contest also offers top-notch business planning advice to help set our new entrepreneurs on the path to success."
Entrants start by completing a short two-page description of their business idea. From these submissions, five finalists will be selected to move forward with business plan development. Each finalist receives an intensive business planning workshop and resources to get started. As an added bonus, the Saskatchewan Angel Investors Network (SAINT) has invited the five finalists to submit their business plans to be considered for possible funding.
The grand prize winner will receive $50,000 to launch their new enterprise through the U of S Youth and Entrepreneurship Program sponsored by Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food.
Applicants must be 35 years or under and recent graduates, or students close to graduation from the U of S. For application forms and instructions, go to www.usask.ca/research/ilo. Deadline for the initial application is May 15th, 2007.
The 2007 BioVenture Business Plan Challenge is a joint initiative of the U of S ILO and Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food to promote, develop, and accelerate the bio-economy within Saskatchewan.
The ILO is dedicated to helping U of S researchers, faculty, staff, and students identify inventions arising from their research and to work with them to protect and commercialize promising new technology. The ILO works proactively with the business community to raise awareness of research investment and partnership opportunities at the U of S.
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For more information, contact:
Lorna Shaw-Lennox
Industry Liaison Office
University of Saskatchewan
Ph: (306) 966-7338
lorna.shaw-lennox@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research/ilo
Michael Robin
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
Ph: (306) 966-2427
michael.robin@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
April 16, 2007
Wilson Centre for Entrepreneurial Excellence Established at University of Saskatchewan
Posted April 16, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 16, 2007
2007-04-08-OTHER
W. Brett Wilson, University of Saskatchewan (U of S) alumnus, Saskatchewan native and Managing Director and Chairman of the Calgary-based FirstEnergy Capital Corp, today announced the establishment of the Wilson Centre for Entrepreneurial Excellence at the University of Saskatchewan's College of Commerce.
This is the first in a series of personal initiatives by Wilson designed to increase entrepreneurial opportunities for youth. "Growing business is the best way to grow a community," Wilson said. "And we're going to start by helping our young people become more successful entrepreneurs right here at home." The one-million-dollar donation to the Wilson Centre will focus on research, teaching and outreach to the business community. Once operational, it is expected the centre will become internationally recognized for "innovation entrepreneurship," the study of turning science and technology into good business.
"Brett Wilson embodies the entrepreneurial spirit that is the foundation of many Saskatchewan enterprises," says Peter MacKinnon, President of the University of Saskatchewan. "We're proud to see one of our alumni contribute to this University in such a personally meaningful way."
Major gifts to three other Saskatchewan organizations were also announced. Persephone Theatre in Saskatoon will receive $500,000 as a joint gift from Brett and his father, Bill Wilson, to build The Bill and Brett Wilson Theatre. The Battlefords Union Hospital Foundation received a $500,000 matching gift from Wilson in a dollar-for-dollar community challenge campaign, and the Battlefords United Way received a three-year $400,000 donation from Wilson.
Wilson stated these gifts are the beginning of what he sees as long-term partnerships with various individuals and organizations. He hopes to expand excellence in his home provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta, helping the prairie region continue to innovate, prosper and compete on the national and international stage. "Westerners have always achieved big things by working hard and working together. And we're just getting started."
The event announcement also featured remarks from the Saskatoon Mayor Don Atchison and Canadian Light Source Executive Director Dr. William Thomlinson.
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For additional information, contact:
Christy Miller, Development Communications Officer
Development, University Advancement
University of Saskatchewan
Telephone (306) 966-8917 or Cell (306) 261-3377
Joni Kitchen
For W. Brett Wilson
Telephone (403) 617-5496
April 10, 2007
University of Saskatchewan and Briercrest College Sign Transfer Credit Agreement
Posted April 10, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 10, 2007
2007-04-06-OTHER
The University of Saskatchewan and Briercrest College in Caronport, SK, have signed an agreement to provide the students attending Briercrest College with credit for some of their classes when they transfer into U of S Arts and Science undergraduate degree programs.
Starting with the fall 2007 semester, Briercrest students will be accepted into the College of Arts and Science at the U of S under a new admission process where the College of Arts and Science will recognize at least 50 per cent of their eligible Briercrest credit units.
"Accessibility to post-secondary education is of fundamental importance to the future success of this province," says Jo-Anne Dillon, Dean of the University of Saskatchewan's College of Arts and Science. "This agreement allows us to affirm our commitment to a quality Arts and Science education at the University of Saskatchewan while recognizing the educational investment and hard work of Briercrest College students. It is my hope the flexibility shown by this agreement will be found in all our future partnerships."
The agreement provides students with a well-defined path when moving from study at Briercrest College to Arts and Science study at the University of Saskatchewan. Further, the agreement assures Briercrest students of a streamlined transfer process, eliminating the need for transcript evaluations on a case-by-case basis.
Briercrest Academic Dean Wes Olmstead expects the agreement will have positive implications for both institutions. "This agreement," notes Olmstead, "is designed to serve students. We hope that is a small step towards fostering a culture of transfer that will increasingly characterize our educational partnerships in this province."
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For additional information, contact:
Penny McKinlay, Communications Specialist
College of Arts and Science
University of Saskatchewan
Telephone (306) 966-1982
Mike Tisdall, Director of Communications
Briercrest College and Seminary
Telephone (306) 756-3375
April 05, 2007
AREVA Resources Gift to University of Saskatchewan Aims to Enhance the Student Experience
Posted April 05, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 5th, 2007
2007-04-04-OTHER
The President and CEO of AREVA Resources Canada, Mr. Donald Ching, today announced a gift to the University of Saskatchewan that will support graduate and undergraduate students in the Department of Geological Sciences, College of Arts and Science and the Toxicology Program at the University of Saskatchewan.
AREVA's $500,000 gift represents their commitment to one of the highest priorities of the University of Saskatchewan: increasing financial assistance to students and programs that enhance the student experience.
In the Department of Geological Sciences, $250,000 will be used to establish two undergraduate and two graduate student scholarships over 5 years. The Toxicology Centre will receive $250,000 that will be used to support a number of program areas and capital expenditures of the Centre, including a graduate student travel award, furnishings for the undergraduate student lounge, and the visiting lecturer fund, which brings world-class toxicologists to the U of S to present to students in the program.
AREVA sees their investment in the University of Saskatchewan as an investment in their own future. Recipients of the AREVA undergraduate scholarships will also have the opportunity to apply their learning through summer employment at AREVA, creating mutually beneficial relationships for AREVA Resources and students who excel in their area of study.
"It is important for AREVA to build relationships with students in Toxicology and Geological Sciences, as these individuals will ultimately shape the future of our company," says Ching. "The opportunity to reward students for their academic performance, then getting to know them through a summer work placement ensures that AREVA continues to recruit and reward the best in our industry. As a world leader in uranium mining, it gives us great pride and pleasure to associate AREVA Resources to a world class institution such as the U of S."
Students from undergraduate and graduate programs in Toxicology and Geological Sciences were present at the announcement in the new Aquatic Facility at the Toxicology Centre this morning to celebrate the announcement of AREVA's gift as a part of the Thinking the World of our Future Campaign. Attendees also heard from Dr. John Giesy, the Canada Research Chair in Environmental Toxicology who recently joined the University of Saskatchewan, as he spoke about his experience in Saskatoon and at the University of Saskatchewan thus far. The event was followed by a pizza lunch while AREVA guests, faculty and staff of the University had the opportunity to learn about the work of students in the Department of Geological Sciences and the Toxicology Program through poster exhibits.
University of Saskatchewan Vice-President Magotiaux announced at the event that gifts to Thinking the World of our Future now total over $120 million dollars, exceeding the original campaign goal by $20 million dollars. Of this total over 30% has been directed towards enhancing the learning experience for students at the U of S, which includes increased support for scholarships and awards. The Thinking the World of our Future Campaign will draw to a close at the end of the University's Centennial year.
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For more information, please contact:
Alun Richards
Manager, Communications
AREVA Resources Canada Inc.
Phone: (306) 343-4637
Christy Miller
Development Communications Officer
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-8917
Dr. Karsten Liber
Director of the Toxicology Centre
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-7441
Dr. Kevin Ansdell
Professor and Head of Department of Geological Sciences
College of Arts and Science
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-5695
April 04, 2007
Four U of S Researchers Honoured for Food, Fuel, and Medical Inventions
Posted April 04, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 4, 2007
2007-04-03-OTHER
Four University of Saskatchewan research teams, whose innovations range from more profitable biodiesel and a better tomato to a novel gene for fast-maturing crops and a new anti-inflammatory drug, have been nominated for the Innovation Place-Industry Liaison Office Award of Innovation.
The nominations were announced today at the "Celebrate Success" finalists' reception at TCU Place in Saskatoon. The winner of the $5,000 award will be named May 15th at TCU Place at the "Celebrate Success!" gala, an event sponsored by the Saskatoon and District Chamber of Commerce and Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan Inc.
"The technologies developed by this year's nominees have great potential to improve our lives through improvements in human health, food production, and environmentally friendly energy," said Doug Gill, managing director of the U of S Industry Liaison Office (ILO). "We will benefit as well with the promise of increased investment and more high-quality jobs in our province,"
The Award of Innovation honours U of S researchers who have brought new and commercially viable technology to the ILO for development into marketable products.
"We're excited by this year's crop of inventions," says Innovation Place director of marketing Jackie Presnell. "Many of the enterprises at Innovation Place are built on ideas that began at the university, and many of the highly qualified people that work here are U of S grads. We're proud to celebrate these successes that help bring novel products and processes to the marketplace."
The finalists are:
- Immunologists John Gordon and Fang Li from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine have developed a treatment with the potential to treat a wide range of inflammatory conditions. These include arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and cystic fibrosis, as well as inflammatory damage caused by heart attacks and strokes. The key to the treatment technology is a protein, G31P, which targets inflammation associated with neutrophils, a type of white blood cell. IL Therapeutics licensed the rights to G31P in 2004 and was subsequently purchased by Pacgen Biopharmaceuticals Inc. The Vancouver-based company plans to begin clinical trials with human volunteers soon.
- Plant sciences professor Lawrence Gusta, together with colleagues Albert Robertson and Guohai Wu, discovered Rob-5, a novel gene that confers tolerance to environmental stress, increases plant vigor and seed yield, and shortens the time needed for plants to mature. It's a valuable innovation for regions with a short growing season such as that found in Saskatchewan. The U of S has filed an international patent application for Rob-5 and granted exclusive license for commercial use to BASF, one of the world's leading agricultural products companies. This licensing agreement is expected to bring immediate financial benefits to the university, as well as substantial ongoing royalty income.
- Martin Reaney and colleague Dushmanthi Jayasinghe in the department of applied microbiology and food science have developed a novel chemical process that could improve profitability in the biodiesel industry. The process produces alkyl esters (biodiesel), de-salted glycerol, and lithium grease from oilseeds such as frost-damaged canola that are not suitable for edible oil production. The technology promises increased profitability by allowing producers to make biodiesel while at the same time diversifying their operations with two other high-value products. The patent-pending technology has attracted interest from a number of organizations within the biodiesel industry.
- Biology professor Vipen Sawhney has developed a photoperiod-sensitive male-sterile tomato line. Under a certain photoperiod, the plants of this line become fertile, which makes it attractive for use in hybrid seed production. The line significantly reduces the cost of tomato hybrid seed production by eliminating the labour-intensive process of hand removal of the male part (stamen) of tomato flowers. The U of S has recently licensed the use of this tomato line non-exclusively to a commercial seed producer in Italy. Sawhney's current research interests are in the genetic, physiological, and biochemical control of male sterility and pollen development.
The annual Award of Innovation is open to U of S employees and students. Selection criteria include the novelty of the innovation and its potential commercial impact. The selection committee includes representatives from Innovation Place and the U of S.
In addition to the cash prize, the winner will be recognized with a photo on the "Award of Innovation" wall at the Industry Liaison Office and a personal trophy.
Innovation Place (www.innovationplace.com) is one of North America's most successful university-related research parks. The Industry Liaison Office (http://www.usask.ca/research/ilo) works with inventors to help commercialize innovations developed at the U of S.
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For more information, contact:
Doug Gill
Managing Director
Industry Liaison Office (ILO)
(306) 966-7335
Doug.Gill@usask.ca
http://www.usask.ca/research/ilo
Susan Burton
Corporate Relations Manager
Innovation Place
(306) 933-7137
sburton@innovationplace.com
www.innovationplace.com
Michael Robin
U of S Research Communications
(306) 966-2427
michael.robin@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
April 03, 2007
University of Saskatchewan Commemorates 100 Years of Success
Posted April 03, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 3, 2007
2007-04-01-OTHER
The University of Saskatchewan (U of S) kicked-off its 100th birthday today with a special celebration held in the Atrium of the Agriculture Building.
U of S Vice-President of Advancement Heather Magotiaux emceed the program, which began with an opening prayer and honour song from Don Speidel, a First Nations, Inuit & Metis Waokiye (Traditional Helper) with Saskatoon Public Schools.
Following his remarks, Mayor Don Atchison presented the City of Saskatoon Centennial Torch to U of S President Peter MacKinnon, who accepted on behalf of the many institutions with which the University of Saskatchewan shares its birthday in 2007, including Butler Buyers Insurance, Coad's Drug Store, Early's Farm and Garden Centre, Saskatoon Business College, Saskatoon Golf & Country Club, St. Paul's Hospital, and The Saskatoon Club.
"The University of Saskatchewan shares a valuable relationship with the City, the Province and many other institutions within Saskatoon, since we all virtually grew up together," said U of S President Peter MacKinnon. "Royal assent was given to the act creating the University of Saskatchewan one hundred years ago on this very day, so it is fitting we gather together to mark this great milestone in the history of our institution, and to celebrate with our peers."
An event highlight was the unveiling of the U of S commemorative stamp by Evan Pachal, Area Retail Business Manager, Saskatoon Area Canada Post. The stamp features the University's historic College Building, highlighting the stone architecture the U of S is well known for.
Also in attendance were His Honour Dr. Gordon Barnhart, Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, and Her Honour, Mrs. Naomi Barnhart. The event concluded with U of S Department of Music Jazz Combo playing "Happy Birthday" and the serving of cake.
Complete details on Centennial celebrations taking place throughout the year are available at http://www.usask.ca/100/.
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For additional information, contact:
Patty Martin, Community and Media Relations Specialist
University Communications
University of Saskatchewan
Telephone (306) 966-6919
