We will strive to ensure a productive, innovative, and sustainable bioeconomy in Nova Scotia, which reduces waste, finds novel ways to use by-product, improves sustainable practices, and conserves our resources for economic prosperity and future generations to enjoy.
Nova Scotia is home to a range of industries that make use of our natural resources to generate economic benefit. Traditional industries like forests, fisheries, agriculture and mining are joined by new and emerging work in energy storage, renewable energy, clean technologies, value-added biomass, and innovative aquaculture. If you have any questions regarding the sustainable bioeconomy missions, please contact us.
Mission in Action
Dr. Christa Brosseau
Dr. Brosseau, a professor of chemistry at Saint Mary’s University and Tier II Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Chemistry and Materials, is working to develop personal protective equipment out of Nova Scotian softwood lumber.
“Obviously the demand for medical pulp isn’t going away anytime soon. I think this has given us the opportunity to think about other potential markets for the forestry sector within Nova Scotia. We have a really great forestry sector that is struggling a little bit right now. So, if we can look for new potential market sources I think that is really exciting, and to be part of that transition even in terms of the way we think about the forestry sector here in Nova Scotia, to me, is great.”
How can research help?
Research can provide valuable support to the innovation ecosystem and help to improve our understanding of the entire resource lifecycle. Nova Scotia’s postsecondary institutions have deep expertise in related fields, including oceans, agrifood and seafood, environmental science and climate change, earth sciences, forests, engineering and entrepreneurship. Fundamental or discovery-based research, applied research, social science and humanities research and R&D are all important contributors to our understanding of the bioeconomy.
Possible Research Areas
- Oceans, especially ocean technology, climate change, industry (fisheries, shipping), and tourism;
- Environmental and earth sciences including biodiversity, weather and climate, geology, geography;
- Natural resources, including energy, minerals, forests;
- Clean technologies and alternative approaches especially in energy capture, renewable energy, agriculture, construction, advanced manufacturing, bioplastics and materials design;
- Food security, including seafood and aquaculture, agri-food, protein development; and
- Fundamental research in all areas to improve understanding, support serendipitous discoveries and lay the foundation for later advancements.
Working Together
Research projects in this mission area demonstrate ways in which we use our natural resources to create economic benefit. Each mission will include opportunities identified by the researchers and their post-secondary institutions, such as Canada Foundation for Innovation match funding, as well as capacity-building initiatives such as student grants or partnership funding. These opportunities, as well as traditional funding calls, will be reviewed with the mission-oriented lens by Research Nova Scotia. Moving forward, we encourage post-secondary institutions and their researchers to shape their applications early in the process to align with one or more of our total 16 missions.