Eight New Brunswick companies received awards for their innovation in one of the province’s six strategic sectors at a ceremony today.

“The INNOV8 awards provide us the opportunity to showcase the importance of innovative companies in helping us rebuild our provincial economy,” said Economic Development Minister Bruce Fitch. “We are proud to recognize these top entrepreneurs who continue to be innovative, produce world-class products and services and help promote our province.”

Fitch presented the department’s awards to the companies for their excellence in one of the following strategic sectors: information and communications technology; biosciences; industrial fabrication; aerospace and defence; value-added wood; and value-added food.

The 2013 winners are:

●    FFG Canada of Bathurst – Innovation Excellence in Aerospace and Defence;
●    LuminUltra Technologies of Fredericton – Innovation Excellence in Biosciences;
●    Sunny Corner Enterprises of Miramichi – Innovation in Industrial Fabrication;
●    Introhive Services of Fredericton – Innovation Excellence in Information and Communications   Technology;
●    Atlantic Potato Distributors of Perth-Andover – Innovation Excellence in Value-Added Food; and
●    Los Cabos of Hanwell – Innovation Excellence in Value-Added Wood.

Awards are also given to an innovative start-up company, and a company, group or individual that shows exemplary innovation leadership in the province. These winners are:

●    Mycodev Group of Fredericton – Most Innovative Start-Up 2013; and
●    Propel ICT – Excellence in Fostering Innovation.

The awards ceremony served as the main event of a two-day forum on accelerating innovation  featuring industry experts and information sessions organized by the department in co-operation with Springboard Atlantic, the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Propel ICT, Planet Hatch, Dr. J. Herbert Smith Centre for Technology Management & Entrepreneurship, Tech South-East and Bio Atlantech.