Natural Products Canada and Government of Canada partner to help Canadian companies seize $1 trillion opportunity

Natural Products Canada (NPC) is pleased to announce a strategic partnership that will support its unique natural product innovation network of advice, connections, programs and investment to advance Canadian natural product innovation.

With $20 million in new support from the Government of Canada, NPC and its partners will help 500 Canadian companies developing natural products and technologies as diverse as nutrition supplements and feed ingredients to compostable packaging and environmental remediation.

“We are honoured to have the endorsement of the Government of Canada,” says Shelley King, CEO of Natural Products Canada. “With this new funding, NPC and its strategic network can help over 500 Canadian companies bring their innovative products and solutions to market where they can serve the needs of real customers in Canada and around the world.”

NPC works exclusively with Canadian innovators who are developing naturally-derived products and technologies to tackle major issues such as climate change, food production, and animal and human health and nutrition. The demand for these new innovations is coming from a broad range of industries–agriculture, food & beverage, veterinary health, personal care, and cleantech to name a few–and represents a trillion-dollar market opportunity.

“Our government stands behind our brilliant innovators, to make sure they have access to the expertise, knowledge and resources to grow and reach markets all across our country. Our support will help Natural Products Canada bring together businesses, academia and industry players to reach untapped markets, grow their businesses, create jobs and provide natural, sustainable and healthy products for Canadians.”

– The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

NPC leverages the strengths and resources of multiple partners to support Canada’s Natural Product Innovation Cluster, a highly diverse and connected network of start-ups and SMEs, research institutes, investors, corporations and others involved in the research, development and commercialization of innovative natural products and technologies. Strategic partnerships include NPC’s node partners (the Prince Edward Island BioAlliance, the Institute of Nutrition and Functional Food, the University of Guelph, Bioscience Association Manitoba, Ag-West Bio, and BioAlberta) as well as many other provincial, regional and international governments, organizations, investors, and corporations.

“The Cluster relies on those with the talent, technical and industry expertise, and other resources to develop and commercialize these game-changing innovations that can benefit people, animals and the planet,” says King. “The department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development is a very welcome addition to this dedicated Cluster.”

The new funding from the Government of Canada was derived through the department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development’s Strategic Innovation Fund Stream 5. A key component of the funding will enable $28M for strategic Commercialization Programs, which have helped advance 25 new natural products and technologies to market, generating 48 new jobs, $12M in new revenue, and $22.9M in new investment in their successful pilot stage.

The Commercialization Programs address key challenges common to highly innovative and/or technical ventures and complement NPC’s comprehensive platform of advice, connections and investment that has already helped to advance over 800 Canadian natural product innovations. NPC has invested in 13 Canadian companies, which has resulted in $17.9 in additional investment for every dollar NPC invested. Its recently launched second investment fund, NPC Ventures, aims to bring $50M in new direct investment with the potential to leverage over $200M in co-investment into Canadian ventures.

The contribution is being made through the Government of Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF), a program designed to attract and support high-quality business investments across all sectors of the economy. The investment is under Stream 5: SIF support for national innovation ecosystems and their pan-Canadian network-led projects that involve a high degree of collaboration and aim to stimulate innovation and commercialization in areas of Canadian advantage and enhance linkages between businesses and academic/research institutions.

For more information:

Sue Coueslan, VP Communications and Stakeholder Relations, Natural Products Canada

Natural Products Canada

Natural Products Canada (NPC) is the driving force behind Canada’s Natural Product Innovation Cluster–a strategic community of SMEs, research institutes, corporations, investors, government departments, and service providers who support the development and commercialization of naturally-derived products and technologies in health and life sciences, natural resources, agriculture and agri-food, and sustainable bioproducts. As part of its role in the Cluster, NPC offers a suite of Commercialization Programs to help companies and researchers advance high-potential products and technologies; provides connection and innovation scouting services to industry and investors through its Innovation Hub; and leverages its Investment Fund to help develop and de-risk promising Canadian opportunities. NPC has over 800 opportunities in its pipeline, has completed 13 investments, experienced two exits, and is in the process of raising another $50M dedicated to Canadian natural product innovation. Established in 2015, NPC has received financial support from a range of public and private entities, including the Government of Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund (Innovation, Science and Economic Development) and the Centre of Excellence in Commercialization and Research (CECR) program (Networks of Centres of Excellence). Visit www.naturalproductscanada.com