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Provincial GovernmentAlberta Research Council
Established in 1921 as the first provincial research organization, the
Alberta Research Council (ARC) has been involved in innovation for nearly
85 years. ARC is now owned by the
Alberta Science and
Research Authority (ASRA) and operates primarily through provincial
government funding. Self-described as being in the "business of
innovation," ARC develops and commercializes innovative technology for its
clients. The focus of ARC has changed from being primarily a government
branch to a more innovative corporation that incorporates leading business
practices for maximum efficiency.
ARC acts as the bridge between research and the marketplace. Their
strategy is to partner the leading edge ideas from universities, research
laboratories and technical institutes with the commercial interests of
industry. By combining advanced research with corporate profit, ARC policy
and focus embodies the inventive spirit. ARC operates in a number of
dynamic fields including agriculture, energy, environment, forestry,
health and manufacturing. ARC has had numerous successes in each of these
fields, including
- Agriculture.
ARC, in partnership with BCL Landview Systems Inc.
developed a new online tool for Alberta's farmers, ranchers,
agri-business, agri-retailers and landowners. The $1 million joint
research venture resulted in
Land View Online.
Land View takes information on a particular piece of land and allows for
detailed record keeping, mapping, crop management and precision farming.
This powerful database tool helps maximize the potential of a farmer or
rancher's land
- Energy. ARC's "Intelligent Systems Application Group" developed the
"brains" for an automated, environmentally safe heater for Calgary's
Mariah Energy Corporation. The system has incredibly high fuel efficiency
and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50 percent, when
compared to traditional coal-burning heaters. ARC also helped develop a
web-based controller to monitor the system for efficiency, including a
live-update of current electricity prices to determine whether or not
operation of the heater is economically efficient.
- Environment. Transforming garbage into gold sounds bizarre, but with
the proper innovation, anything is possible. The pulp and paper industry
creates a lime-based byproduct that is considered waste. ARC, in a joint
venture with two other firms is transforming that waste into valuable
fertilizer for acidic soils. Field tests are using this lime waste to
boost the pH of acidic soils and improve crop yield. This lime byproduct
serves the same purpose as commercially available agricultural lime and
reduces the waste created by the pulp and paper industry.
- Forestry. ARC researchers have created a new machine that allows
paper manufacturers
to use different materials (such as straw or hemp)
instead of traditional pulp. This machine, called a digester, works like a
large pressure cooker and allows pulp and paper producers to experiment
with different blends and treatments of agri-fibers for optimum
efficiency. A possible spin-off to the digester would allow paper
producers to create their products from farmer's by-products. Paper could
potentially be made with straw-blends and create extra revenue for
Albertas farmers.
- Health. ARC, working for an American firm, ZymeTx Inc. based in Oklahoma,
developed a more efficient production process for their flu tests. The drug,
known as ZStatFlu, allows for a rapid diagnosis of influenza A and B and
has recently been approved by the Federal Drug Administration for legal
sale in the United States. ARC modified the ZymeTx process of production
for the active ingredient of ZStatFlu to allow for greater quantities
to be produced.
- Manufacturing. An ARC engineer has developed a "hot suit", a winter
snow-suit equipped with a propane powered heater. This heater warms a
liquid that is circulated through
the suit to keep the wearer warm in the
most brutal Alberta winters imaginable. The suit is equipped with sensors
that allow the wearer to control the intensity of the heat to different
parts of the body. The system's heat output equals that of two car
batteries, but the unit itself weighs less than two pounds. The suit is
expected to retail for less than $500 dollars. ARC is currently looking
for investors to mass produce the suit.
Click here for more information on the
Alberta Research Council
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