Smart Grid Network Will Give Innovative Companies Access to Testing Labs
FREDERICTON – A pilot project is being launched by Ignite Fredericton and the Smart Grid Innovation Network (SGIN) to help small and medium-sized businesses conduct smart grid research.
SGIN – a partnership between NB Power, the University of New Brunswick and Siemens Canada – and Ignite Fredericton will join forces and receive a non-repayable contribution of $231,000 from ACOA through its Business Development Program. The organizations will also receive $14,500 from Opportunities New Brunswick to deliver the L.A.B. (Lab Access Benefits) Funding Project.
“I’m pleased to announce today on behalf of my colleague the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, and the Minister responsible for ACOA, an investment of $231,000 to Ignite Fredericton and the Smart Grid Innovation Network to help small and medium-sized businesses conduct research and development and testing in smart grid innovation to help increase their growth potential,” Fredericton MP Matt DeCourcey said at a press conference this morning.
The two-year project is meant to help smart grid-focused companies access testing labs at the University of New Brunswick, NB Power and Siemens Canada.
This lab access could benefit companies like Simptek, which delivers customer engagement technology, and electric radiant heating systems company Therma-ray Inc.
“This is all about vendors … to alleviate some of the challenges they have in order to access these labs and do their innovations as they go through the procedure of going to market,” said Brad Wasson, director of Smart Grid and product development at NB Power.