AI Bio Announces the Alberta Bio Future Research and Innovation Program

Alberta Bio Future’s Research and Innovation Program –Deadline: October 28, 2015 Funding call opens for research and innovation projects to develop new bioindustrial products or technologies     Bioindustrial products from Alberta – derived from sustainable agricultural or forest biomass – are used in several sectors, including the personal care, chemical and energy industries, as well as construction and manufacturing. These bioproducts are helping to meet the world’s growing demand for ‘green’ solutions; they have desirable qualities for the manufacture of goods and materials while also being environmentally friendly. “Alberta is a prime location for a thriving bioeconomy. We have abundant, renewable agriculture and forest Read More …

Introducing the Newest Members of the BCN Team

Network Strategic Lead – Dr. Lauren Mercier Lauren received her PhD in synthetic chemistry from the University of Calgary in 2011. During her doctoral studies, she was awarded a JSPS-NSERC Summer Program Fellowship and worked at the University of Nagoya, Japan. Lauren then accepted a one year postdoctoral position at the Université Laval studying polymers for solar cells. In 2013, she was awarded an Alexander von Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellowship to continue solar cell research at the University of Ulm, Germany. Growing homesick for Alberta, Lauren settled in Edmonton in 2014 and worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Read More …

BCN Celebrates Its 5th Birthday

The BCN has officially crossed the 5-year mark! To commemorate this special occasion, we have designed an infographic (click here for a PDF version or click on the image on the right to enlarge) to illustrate the many tangible and intangible benefits that the network has brought to researchers at the University of Alberta, the agricultural/forestry and energy sectors of the province, and the growing Alberta bioeconomy. We are also rewarding our avid newsletter readers and network members with the opportunity to win 1 of 2 Amazon gift cards worth $50 each (see details below)! The BCN was born in 2009 with Read More …

New research projects announced

We are pleased to announce the following  research projects for the 2013-14 period: For more information see Current Research  Project List Forestry Program – Value Applications for Alberta’s Forest Sector   Opportunities to integrate forest-based by-products with conventional industries     Amit Kumar, Chemical & Materials Engineering, U of A Optimization and adaptation of a lipids-to-hydrocarbons (LTH) technology to convert Alberta-based tall oils into renewable fuels and chemicals   David Bressler, Agriculture, Food & Nutritional Science, U of A Identification and Valorization of Terpene Biomass from Alberta Forest Processing   Jeff Stryker, Chemistry, U of A Biocatalysis & Fermentation   Microbial Read More …

Milestones=Momentum

“Milestones=Momentum” BIOALBERTA MEMBERS RECOGNIZED AT 2012 AGM & Awards Gala ~ Art Froehlich inducted into Alberta Bioindustry Hall of Fame ~ Edmonton, Alberta – November 22, 2012 – Acknowledging that achieving milestones provides companies with the momentum they require to move their products and services to the next stage, BioAlberta hosted its 13th Annual AGM and Awards Gala in Calgary, to an audience of more than 130 representatives from government, industry and educational institutions. The event recognized companies and individuals within Alberta’s life sciences industry for their innovation, leadership and achievement. BioAlberta would like to congratulate the following award recipients for inspiring new ways of thinking and for Read More …

University 101: Network readies UAlberta for a biofuel revolution

If there are aspects to UAlberta that you don’t understand, chances are you’re not alone. The university can be a complicated entity with many moving parts. University 101 was created to assist the campus community in better understanding who does what and how things get done at the university. In a concerted effort to become the nexus where traditional resource riches and expertise meets the energy future of biofuels, the University of Alberta, with the full support of the Alberta government, has created an organization designed to marry provincial research communities and industry in the areas of biorefining and biomass Read More …

Video of the ABDC Fibre Processing Facility

This video was filmed during a one-day seminar series and tour of the Alberta Biomaterials Development Center (ABDC) Fibre Processing Facility at the Alberta Innovates Technology Futures building in Vegreville, AB. The BCN participated in this event and attended seminars by Dr. Hamdy Khalil of Woodbridge Foam Corporation, Stefan Declerck of Van Dommele Engineering, Dr. Amar Mohanty of the University of Guelph Plan Agriculture & School of Engineering, Dr. Mohini Sain of the Centre for Biocomposites and Biomaterials Processing at the University of Toronto, and Mike Duckett of Hemptechnology. Following a networking lunch consisting of delicious, locally-made perogies and sausage, we embarked on a guided Read More …

BCN Theme Lead Receives Young Engineer of the Year Award

Dr. Amit Kumar, Lead of the Biomass Pre-Processing Theme and Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, is being honored with the 2011 Young Engineer of the Year Award by the Canadian Society for Bioengineering (CSBE).  The award recognizes outstanding engineering contributions to Canadian agricultural, food, or biological engineering made by a CSBE member under 40 years of age. Kumar will be presented with the award on July 12 during CSBE’s annual meeting in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  “It feels great to be recognized by my peers for the contribution I have made. This recognition gives me the satisfaction that the work Read More …

BCN will be at the 2011 World Congress on Biotechnology & Bioprocessing

The BCN is participating in the 2011 World Congress on Biotechnology & Bioprocessing in Toronto, ON (May 8-11). As an integral part of Bioeconomy Alberta, the BCN will actively support the mission to develop Alberta’s bioindustrial sector by attracting new companies to the province and continuing to augment the growth of a strong research community to enhance the sustainability and competitive edge of Alberta’s bioeconomy. Look for us at the Alberta booth on the tradeshow floor, request meetings with us or our Alberta colleagues through the Bio One-on-One Partnering tool, and keep an eye on the Bioeconomy Alberta website for information on our activities. Bioeconomy Alberta is hosting a networking reception on Tuesday Read More …