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Kwantlen Polytechnic and Bioenterprise partner for agtech innovation

Canada’s only polytechnic university and Bioenterprise, Canada’s Food and Agri-Tech Engine, have formed a new partnership to help support agri-tech and food-tech innovation. Kwantlen Polytechnic University, based in British Columbia, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Bioenterprise Canada to join the engine as a knowledge and development partner.

“We are excited to make KPU’s strategic expertise and resources available to the innovative start-ups, entrepreneurs, research organizations and businesses that we work with across Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector,” said Dave Smardon, Bioenterprise CEO, in a press release.

The collaboration will help open new opportunities to Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s faculty, students and stakeholders for innovation partnerships in other parts of Canada, including research programs and projects, events, networking, challenge programs, joint funding applications and more. Bioenterprise’s market development and market access initiatives for entrepreneurs and start-ups are also available to support Kwantlen Polytechnic University where applicable.

“We are a small institution, so critical mass is the real benefit to us from being part of a national network like the engine,” said Deborah Henderson, director of the Institute for Sustainable Horticulture at KPU. “This broadens our opportunity to partner across the country, expand our resources and make our expertise available to industry across Canada. We look forward to collaborating on research, bringing value to the broad range of agriculture industries and supporting a stronger, more national voice for agricultural innovation.”