ST. LOUIS PARK, MN – Bringing the power of synchrotron light to Minnesota's academic and industrial life science researchers is the aim of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed today between the BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota (BBAM) and Canada's national synchrotron facility, the Canadian Light Source (CLS).
"The goal of the partnership is to improve scientific and product outcomes while improving operating efficiency for both Minnesota and Canadian companies," said Dale Wahlstrom, CEO of BBAM. "We are looking forward to collaborating with CLS as we continue to retain, grow and expand Minnesota's bioscience industry.
"The Canadian Light Source is known internationally for both its leading edge life science research and our responsiveness to industry," says Royal Hinther, CLS Director of Business Development. "We're thrilled to enter into this agreement with the BioBusiness Alliance. Strengthening the collaboration between our synchrotron and Minnesota's science and industry network will bring enormous benefits to our respective research and business communities."
The agreement aims to make the CLS more easily available to Minnesota academic and industrial researchers. BBAM will promote the synchrotron's techniques in biomedical imaging, crystallography and spectroscopy – capabilities unavailable in the state – to its network of researchers from academic and industrial institutions in Minnesota and throughout the United States. The CLS will provide access to its synchrotron facility to researchers from BBAM's stakeholder groups as well as host graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and scientists from Minnesota industry and academia to perform research.
Both institutions will work together to promote the value of combining Minnesota's world-leading life science network with the cutting-edge imaging and analytical capabilities of the CLS to advance research and innovation in the areas of renewable energy, agriculture, industrial bioproducts, and medical devices and products.
About The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota:
The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota is an industry-led, action-based 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of bioscience-related industries to create jobs for the citizens of Minnesota. The charter of the BioBusiness Alliance is to bring together all related areas of the biosciences in a coordinated effort to help ensure the long-term health and success of Minnesota's bioscience industry. To learn more http://www.biobusinessalliance.org/.
About CLS:
The Canadian Light Source is Canada's national centre for synchrotron research. Located at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, the CLS is a powerful tool for academic and industrial research in a wide variety of areas including environmental science, natural resources and energy, health and life sciences, and information and communications technology. CLS operations are funded by the Government of Canada, the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council, National Research Council of Canada, Canadian Institutes of Health Reasearch, the Government of Saskatchewan and the University of Saskatchewan. For more information: www.lightsource.ca/media/quickfacts.php.
For more information contact:
Matthew Dalzell
Communications Coordinator
Canadian Light Source Inc.
Ph: (306) 657-3739 Cell: (306) 227-0978
matthew.dalzell@lightsource.ca
Melissa Kjolsing
Communications Manager
BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota
Ph: (952) 746-3844
mkjolsing@biobusinessalliance.org