SASKATCHEWAN LIFE SCIENCES GET BOOST FROM KANSAS CITY MISSION

A Saskatchewan mission to Kansas City, Missouri to promote the province's resource and life sciences sectors by strengthening partnerships between the two jurisdictions has proven successful.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed between the province and the Midwest Research Institute (MRI), an independent, not-for-profit, contract research organization in Kansas City established to provide research and development for industry, government and the public covering the areas of enhanced oil recovery, environmental remediation and other areas of applied science.

"Saskatchewan's innovation sector is fast becoming one of the jewels of our provincial economy at both the national and international level," Enterprise Minister Ken Cheveldayoff said. "This MOU with a leading U.S. institution again highlights the significant assets we have in Saskatchewan and our ability to attract interest from all over the world. Following the signing, Minister Cheveldayoff and representatives from VIDO, Genome Prairie and the Canadian Light Source met with a number of Missouri and Kansas based life science companies to explore the opportunities for future business relations.

The MOU signing was one of several key items on the itinerary for the three-day mission, which concluded Tuesday. The delegation also met with officials from the Kansas City Smartport to view best practises in attracting businesses and to discuss the development and marketing of Regina's Global Transportation Hub. A meeting was held with the Kauffman Foundation opening the doors for collaboration around the development and delivery of training programs for Saskatchewan entrepreneurs and angel investors. Cheveldayoff also met with Compass Minerals, the head office of Saskatchewan SIFTO Salt, to explore opportunities for expansion of the company's Saskatchewan activities.

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For more information, contact:

Joanne Johnson
Enterprise Saskatchewan
Regina
Phone: 306-798-0503