LONDON - BIOSA Technologies is investing over $1.23 million in the development, manufacturing and distribution of non-woven filtration material for N95 and N99 mask production and other PPE products, with support of more than $615,000 provided through the Ontario Together Fund. The investment will help the company scale up production of an anti-viral and anti-bacterial textile material for use in personal protective equipment (PPE) products.
Supporting innovative projects like BIOSA’s is why Ontario has invested an additional $50 million in the renewed Ontario Together Fund in 2021–22. The fund will continue to support local innovators and businesses to further enhance Ontario’s domestic supply chain capacity, promote Ontario’s MedTech ecosystem and build up our manufacturing sector to ensure the province is well-prepared for future challenges.
The renewed Ontario Together Fund is focused on supporting homegrown manufacturing and innovation to combat COVID-19 and provide other goods critical to the health, safety, and security of Ontarians beyond this pandemic. It is doing so under the following strategic pillars:
- Strengthening Ontario’s domestic manufacturing capacity
- Supporting homegrown technologies and innovative solutions
- Strengthening Ontario’s MedTech ecosystem.
“Through the Ontario Together Fund, our government is making targeted investments in domestic businesses with the ideas and solutions to help us through this pandemic and put us on the road to economic recovery,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “BIOSA and their new capacity to scale up production of an advanced material for use in masks and other PPE products is another example of Ontario innovation at its very best. Ontario manufacturers continue to enhance our resilience to respond to any challenge while strengthening our economy.”
BIOSA, a biotechnology research and development firm, developed a filtration product with a pore size that is a fifth the size of the pores in current N95 masks, providing reliable anti-viral and anti-bacterial protection even when wet, unlike current medical-grade masks. Composed from excess agricultural waste, the material is resistant to humidity, can be worn for extended periods, is compostable and can be cleaned for future use. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, the company developed material for the military, first responders and workers in environmentally hazardous jobs.
“BIOSA Technologies is one of countless businesses in Middlesex who are stepping up each and every day with innovative solutions to ensure our families, friends and loved ones stay safe,” said Monte McNaughton, MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex. “I want to thank BIOSA for producing these critical supplies we need to protect our community.”
“We’re thrilled to receive OTF funding – we’ve been working hard to bring advanced manufacturing processes to Ontario and this investment has allowed us to build out our capabilities and bring much-needed materials to Canada’s local supply chain,” said Dr. Nicholas Ledra, CEO of BIOSA. “We strongly believe in Canadians’ health and safety and preserving our environment, so our focus will always be on replacing harmful or wasteful products with eco-friendly, efficient solutions. Through this investment, we can have an even greater impact through our advanced PPE material, as well as pursue novel applications of it for HVAC filtration in schools and hospitals. We’re excited to see where the technology can go.”
Healthy people are essential for a healthy economy. With vaccine distribution continuing to increase, hope is on the horizon. Ontario’s Action Plan: Protecting People’s Health and Our Economy provides the resources necessary to finish the battle with COVID-19, building on the government’s record investments to protect health and jobs during the global pandemic.
QUICK FACTS
- Ontario’s Action Plan: Protecting People’s Health and Our Economy brings total investments to $16.3 billion to protect people’s health and $23.3 billion to protect our economy. Ontario’s COVID-19 action plan support now totals $51 billion.
- Businesses and organizations looking to apply to the extended Ontario Together Fund can now submit through Available Funding Opportunities from the Ontario Government.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- 2021 Budget - Ontario’s Action Plan: Protecting People’s Health and Our Economy
- See how your organization can help fight COVID-19
MEDIA CONTACTS
Rebecca Bozzato
Minister Fedeli’s Office
rebecca.bozzato@ontario.ca
Sumita Kanga
Communications Branch
Sumita.Kanga@ontario.ca
416-569-1890
