TORONTO - The provincial government has issued a call for funding proposals from the biotechnology industry. A total of $2 million will be divided among partnerships working in the sector.

The funding is the first of a two-phase program known as the Biotechnology Cluster Innovation Program (BCIP). In the second phase the plans from winning proposals will be implemented with the intent of supporting commercialization centres, research projects, and other regional projects.

In addition to these plans BCIP intends to fund projects that integrate biotechnologies into knowledge-based and traditional industry sectors such as photonics, information technology, automotive, chemicals, agriculture and forestry.

Businesses interested in submitting a funding proposal must be a member of a partnership. These partnerships can be made up of industry, entrepreneurs, venture capital firms and investors, federal government agencies, school boards, colleges, universities, and researchers.

Expressions of Interest will be accepted until April 8, 2003. For more information visit http://www.ontariocanada.com.

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