Research and Development Facilities

Acadia University

Acadia University is one of Canada's oldest universities. Acadia consistently ranks in the top five undergraduate universities in Canada. Its university community is deeply engaged with business development activities:

• Acadia's Office of Industry & Community Engagement connects Acadia's researchers with industry, government and community groups interested in research, commercialization and outreach.
• The Acadia Entrepreneurship Centre provides multiple services for individuals, businesses and not-for-profits.
• The Rural Innovation Centre is an incubator for start-up companies to access working space, support, networking and mentors. Its tenants include the Acadia Institute for Data Analytics, Acadia Tidal Energy Institute, and the Atlantic Wine Institute.

Nova Scotia Community College

Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) operates 14 campuses throughout Nova Scotia. Two of them are in the Annapolis Valley at three locations:

• Annapolis Valley Campus, Middleton, provides a range of programs. It is home to the Applied Research Group and Pilikan House, a living lab and demonstration site for energy efficiency and sustainable design.
• The Centre of Geographic Sciences (COGS), Lawrencetown, is renowned for offering high-quality education in surveying, geographic information systems (GIS), land-use planning, remote sensing and mapping. The COGS campus is the only one in Canada equipped with topographic-bathymetric lidar (light detection and ranging) to map and study the ocean floor. This technology is being applied to aquaculture, oceans management, and environmental and municipal planning.
• Kingstec Campus, Kentville, provides a wide range of programs in a bright, modern learning environment. Kingstec has Atlantic Canada's first and only commercial teaching winery facilities.

Other local research sites

Kentville Research and Development Centre was established in 1911. It is one of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's network of 20 research and development centres across Canada. The centre delivers agriculture and agri-food research and technology transfer, especially related to regionally important crops such as tree fruits, berry crops, wine grapes and vegetables.

Perennia Food and Agriculture Inc. is Nova Scotia's only technical-development agency focused solely on our food sector and maximizing its value. Its work supports growth and economic development in Nova Scotia's agriculture, seafood, and food and beverage sectors.

Provincial support for R&D

The Nova Scotia R&D tax credit is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency. It is fully refundable at the rate of 15% of eligible expenditures.

Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI) is the Province's business development agency. NSBI offers a variety of programs and financial incentives to businesses that invest in innovation.