Government of Canada Invests in Innovative Technologies for Alzheimer's Care

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Aug. 23, 2012) - The Government of Canada is investing nearly $5.4 million to bring southern Ontario businesses, researchers and not-for-profit organizations together to work on developing new technologies for Alzheimer's care. The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), accompanied by Mark Adler, Member of Parliament for York Centre, made the announcement today at the new B'nai Brith Alzheimer's Home.

"The Harper Government is committed to finding solutions in partnership with southern Ontario's businesses to improve the treatment and care of Alzheimer's patients," said Minister Goodyear. "Our Government is taking action to turn the tide on Alzheimer's disease, recognizing its growing social and economic cost on families in Canada and around the world."

"Our Government is proud to support the Centre of Innovation Excellence for Alzheimer's Care," said MP Adler. "Today's announcement demonstrates our Government's commitment to unleashing the potential of Canadian innovation to help Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers."

FedDev Ontario's $5.4 million contribution through the Prosperity Initiative will allow B'nai Brith to create an innovation laboratory to develop and test new technologies, products and services related to Alzheimer's disease, in partnership with the Ivey International Centre for Health Innovation.

Participating companies, specializing in healthcare and information communication technologies, will be working with the Centre of Innovation Excellence for Alzheimer's Care to bring their innovative solutions to market, including medical devices, diagnostic tests and a variety of technologies used to monitor and treat patients. These collaborations are designed to bring advanced Alzheimer's care solutions to world markets as well as increase the concentration of companies devoted to Alzheimer's disease and dementia care in the region, helping businesses in southern Ontario compete internationally.

"Since 1875, B'nai Brith Canada has remained at the forefront of Canadian life, serving all communities and providing cutting-edge care for those most in need. The grassroots Jewish organization has taken upon itself the mission of enhancing our communities, from youth programming to seniors care, human rights advocacy to community outreach," said Eric Bissell, National President, B'nai Brith Canada. "Continuing in this rich tradition, B'nai Brith is pleased to be partners with FedDev Ontario and the Ivey International Centre for Health Innovation in the creation of B'nai Brith's Centre of Innovation Excellence for Alzheimer's Care, a world-class, state-of-the-art facility for those suffering from Alzheimer's disease."

"The Centre for Innovation Excellence for Alzheimer's Care will partner with the non-profit and health sectors, government, industry and academia in their shared commitment to economic growth and development with the goal of improving patient care," said Dr. Anne Snowdon, Chair, International Centre for Health Innovation. "Through our expertise, the Ivey International Centre for Health Innovation will support the assessment and commercialization of new technologies and devices that will strengthen Alzheimer's care. We are pleased to be a part of today's announcement and congratulate FedDev Ontario and B'nai Brith on their leadership."

For more information on this project and the Prosperity Initiative, please see the backgrounder.

Created in 2009, FedDev Ontario supports the southern Ontario economy by building on the region's strengths and creating opportunities for jobs and economic growth. The Agency has launched a number of initiatives to create a Southern Ontario Advantage and place the region in a strong position to compete in the global economy. These initiatives are designed to encourage partnerships and support projects that help the region's businesses and communities become more competitive, innovative, and diversified. To learn more, please visit www.FedDevOntario.gc.ca or call 1-866-593-5505.

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This news release is available online at: www.actionplan.gc.ca.

Backgrounder

Contribution to B'nai Brith

FedDev Ontario is providing B'nai Brith with a non-repayable contribution of up to $5,368,882 through its Prosperity Initiative. This contribution will allow B'nai Brith to create the Centre of Innovation Excellence for Alzheimer's Care.

The Centre will be housed within the new B'nai Brith Alzheimer's Home, and will be managed in partnership with the Ivey International Centre for Health Innovation of the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University.

FedDev Ontario's investment will be used to complete construction of the Centre of Innovation Excellence for Alzheimer's Care and hire eight dedicated employees, who will lead collaborations among industry, research and not-for-profit partners. Within the Centre, partners will develop, test and commercialize new Alzheimer's technologies, products, and care approaches, with the ultimate goal of reaching international markets.

The following are examples of the technologies that will be evaluated in the Centre:

• a technology that helps people stay digitally connected to their loved ones to reduce social isolation and provides support to enhance the health and safety of patients;

• a technology that uses sensors on a bed frame to detect patient movement, heart rate and breathing, which automatically notifies care providers when to attend to the patient; and

• a wireless medical device that automatically senses the use of hand washing devices to ensure proper infection control.

For more information, please visit www.bnaibrith.ca.

Prosperity Initiative

FedDev Ontario's Prosperity Initiative is designed to encourage businesses, not-for-profit organizations and post-secondary institutions in southern Ontario to undertake projects that will result in a more productive, diversified and competitive economy in the region.

Funding is available for projects that:

• enhance productivity, by accelerating the adoption of new technologies, processes and skills to enhance businesses and sectors in southern Ontario to achieve higher output in relation to their investments;
  
  
• diversify the regional economy, by increasing the number of new industries or opportunities in southern Ontario communities or regions with the potential to have long-term impacts on their economic diversity; and
  
  
• build a competitive advantage for southern Ontario, by building on the assets and strengths of southern Ontario businesses and regions to create or expand economic clusters and enhance their global competitiveness.
  
  

Applications for funding are being accepted and assessed on an ongoing basis. For more information and to apply, please refer to the Program Guidelines available on the website at www.FedDevOntario.gc.ca.