Bridgewater, NS — Gerald Keddy, Member of Parliament for South Shore – St. Margaret’s, on behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), today announced a contribution to Pro-Oceanus Systems Inc. from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program.

The funding supports an innovative research and development project that will help in the development of a new instrument that will assist ocean scientists in monitoring and studying the effects of global climate change on the oceans.

“Our government is investing in science and technology to create highly skilled jobs, strengthen the economy and improve Canadians’ quality of life,” said MP Keddy. “We are supporting Canadian firms that successfully develop innovative technologies. I would like to congratulate the talented team at Pro-Oceanus - you are an example of the best Canada has to offer!”

“Support from the IRAP Youth Intern program has given us the opportunity to hire Mr. Tim Power, a highly skilled new graduate of the Nova Scotia Community College,” said Dr. Bruce Johnson, President & Co-Founder of Pro-Oceanus Systems Inc. “Mr. Power will use his electronics training to help Pro-Oceanus Systems further develop our world leading technologies in underwater instrumentation that is used for monitoring and studying the effects of global climate change on the oceans.”

This $24,953 contribution will support Pro-Oceanus in the development of a new instrument for measuring CO2 in the oceans. In particular Mr. Power will work with Pro-Oceanus scientists and engineers to develop and test an instrument for measuring total dissolved inorganic carbon. When coupled with Pro-Oceanus’ highly successful CO2-ProTM, this new instrument will provide all of the information needed for understanding the chemistry of CO2 in the oceans. This understanding is particularly important at a time when ocean scientists are concerned about seawater becoming increasingly acidic, leading to serious impacts on coral reefs and on organisms such as shellfish that must precipitate calcium carbonate to form shells.

The Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan provided new resources of $200 million to the Industrial Research Assistance Program over two years to support innovative Canadian firms. To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

Pro-Oceanus Systems Inc. provides world-leading technology in its line of advanced dissolved gas sensors. Each of its instruments have been developed to ensure stability and accuracy in a package that can be integrated easily for use in laboratories and deployed on moorings, gliders, buoys, and in underway mode on shipboard.


About NRC and NRC-IRAP

The Industrial Research Assistance Program provides a range of both technical and business-oriented advisory services along with necessary financial support to qualified innovative Canadian small- and medium-sized enterprises.

The program is delivered by a field staff of 240 professionals in more than 100 communities across Canada. Through this program, the National Research Council is committed to working with small- and medium-sized enterprises while they realize their full potential, turning knowledge and innovation into strategic opportunities, jobs and prosperity for all Canadians.