One of five Ocean Supercluster projects announced today
Video Announcement here:
Today, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster announced five new projects with a total value of nearly $29 million, including the Ocean Solutions for Immune Boosting Project. This Nova Scotia-led project is using Atlantic sea cucumber to develop and launch a clinically proven novel human health product with benefits in warding off infectious diseases.
AKSO has concentrated a secret ingredient from Atlantic sea cucumber and encapsulated into capsules as natural health product. The product is capable of significantly increasing immunity in animals.Through this project, AKSO Marine Biotech Inc. and its partners plan to use these fully characterized bioactive ingredients to develop and launch a clinically proven novel human health product with benefits in warding off infectious diseases.With a total project value of over $2.3 million, the Ocean Supercluster will provide $520 thousand with the balance coming from project partners. In the Ocean Solutions for Immune Boosting Project, AKSO Marine Biotech inc. will work with partners Atlantic Sea Cucumber Ltd., Fisheries and Oceans Canada, National Research Council (NRC), and PEI Bio Alliance to develop the human health products.
The novel products created in the Ocean Solutions for Immune Boosting Project will have an immunity boosting claim which will help to reduce the severity of infectious diseases from the common cold to potentially minimizing the effects of coronaviruses.This project will result in five or more direct jobs with indirect opportunities for local construction companies and professional technicians. These opportunities will be open to minorities, women,
indigenous and other underrepresented groups. The product developed in the Ocean Solutions for Immune Boosting Project will also create more sustainable solutions while growing Canada’s ocean economy.
About OSC
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is a pan-Canadian, industry-led transformative cluster focused on tackling some of the biggest challenges across ocean sectors through a collaborative program designed to accelerate the development and commercialization of globally relevant solutions, while also building a highly-capable, inclusive workforce. The Ocean Supercluster has approved projects with a total value of more than $320 million which will deliver more than 100 new made-in-Canada ocean products, processes, and services to sell to the world.
Media Contact:
Nancy Andrews
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
nancy.andrews@oceansupercluster.ca
709.725.7070
Quotes:
“Our government is ensuring our oceans and marine ecosystems remain clean and healthy for
Canadians from coast to coast to coast. The Ocean Supercluster projects announced today will help us
build a cleaner post-pandemic economy and achieve environmental sustainability on a global scale.
Projects such as the one led by AKSO Marine Biotech Inc. are taking innovation further, making lasting
contributions and helping provide more sustainable and healthy consumer products for Canadians.” –
The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
“The Ocean Solutions for Immune Boosting Project is an exciting new Ocean Supercluster project that
will not only provide an innovative solution to help protect human health but also deliver environmental
benefit by decreasing the amount of seafood processing waste that’s left unused.” – Kendra
MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
“When I first arrived on Canada’s east coast, I was overwhelmed by the abundance of Canada’s marine
resources, in particular, Atlantic sea cucumbers. There are abundant Atlantic sea cucumber in Northern
Atlantic Ocean, but has not developed. Since then, I have determined to explore Atlantic sea cucumber
into a medicinal resource, benefiting the local people and promoting it to the world. This process is long
and challenging, and we are grateful for the partners’ support to help us move ahead.” – Sam Gao, the
President of AKSO Marine Biotech Inc.
“At Perennia, we are committed to supporting Nova Scotia seafood companies develop new products
and reach global markets using a full utilization approach to seafood processing. In that way, AKSO is a
perfect client. Their passion for manufacturing products that provide consumers access to the diversity
of functional compounds from Atlantic Sea Cucumbers, while simultaneously utilizing all parts of the
animal, is condemnable.” – Dr. Jonny Rolin, Perennia Seafood Food Scientist
Project Photos:
