MISSOURI DELEGATION VISITS SASKATOON TO LEARN ABOUT LIFE SCIENCES RESEARCH

Saskatchewan is pleased to welcome 18 legislators and representatives from the Missouri Biotechnology Association, the Missouri Technology Corporation and others, as part of a delegation to view our science infrastructure first-hand, discuss best practices and potential for collaboration.

Over their two-day visit the delegation will study the province's high calibre research institutions and learn about Saskatchewan's leading edge life sciences research activity.

"Visits like this demonstrate again that Saskatchewan is a global player, and the world is increasingly taking notice of that," Enterprise Minister Ken Cheveldayoff said. "Our government is committed to growing our innovative knowledge-based economy. We believe it will be a large component of the business focus of tomorrow and a major contributor to the development of goods and services associated with a healthy environment and prosperous families."

The Missouri delegation's agenda includes tours and/or meetings with representatives of:

• Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO)
• Innovation Place
• Genome Prairie
• Ag-West Bio
• Canadian Light Source 
• National Research Council - Plant Biotechnology Institute 
• POS Pilot Plant
• University of Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan is recognized as one of the world's leading life science research centres and has extensive research and technological support and infrastructure. The province is home to 30 per cent of the Canadian industry and research activity. Our research institutions have projects and collaborations around the world. Innovation Place in Saskatoon is one of North America's most advanced research parks for agriculture, biotechnology, vaccines and the environment.

This tour will not only highlight for the Missouri delegation Saskatchewan's research expertise, it will also enable our respective research, business and policy communities to identify possible collaborations and partnerships that will enhance our province's reputation as a centre of innovation.

While in the province, the Missouri delegation will also attend a presentation by the Ministry of Energy and Resources on Saskatchewan's strategic approach to carbon capture and storage.

Note: For interview and photo opportunities with members of the Missouri delegation, media are invited to join the tour of the Canadian Light Source Synchrotron on Tuesday, August 25 at approximately 1:30 p.m. at 110 Perimeter Road, Saskatoon.

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For more information, contact:

Tyler McMurchy
Intergovernmental Affairs
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-5193
Cell: (306) 537-7051