UBC awarded $3.8M to drive innovation in food processing

The University of British Columbia (UBC) receives over $3.8 million from the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada (PacifiCan) to establish the Food and Beverage Innovation Centre.

The centre will bring food science experts and businesses together to develop innovative packaging, processing techniques, and products, helping B.C. food and beverage processors become more competitive in global markets.

The funding was provided through PacifiCan’s Regional Innovation Ecosystems (RIE) program, which aims to grow and nurture priority sectors across British Columbia, building an ecosystem that includes under-represented groups and allows these priority sectors to innovate and compete globally.

UBC was also awarded $5 million to establish the Biodevice Foundry, which will provide companies with lab space, specialized equipment, and training programs for product development and testing.

“Both the Food and Beverage Innovation Centre and Biodevice Foundry will strengthen connections between university and industry partners and build the talent and collaborations that are needed to develop globally competitive ‘made in B.C.’ products and technologies,” said Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon, president and vice-chancellor, UBC.

The investments are expected to benefit more than 60 businesses and help create local jobs.