Minister of Parliament Darrel Samson for Sackville-Preston-Chezzetcook, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), stopped by our Canadian headquarters on Friday to announce the investment of $500,000 from the Government of Canada.
This investment builds on commitments made by the Government of Canada and the four Atlantic Provinces to drive economic growth and success in the region through the Atlantic Growth Strategy so small businesses, like us here at VineView, can enter into new markets with the financial support they need to make a big impact.
“The Government of Canada is committed to building a strong culture of innovation that focuses on creative and entrepreneurial people, state-of-the-art technology and competitive companies. As it helps vintners throughout North America and Europe improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of their operations, VineView is creating wealth and sustained economic growth here at home,” said Minister Bains.
The contribution made through ACOA’s Business Development Program will help us make a big impact this growing season in strategic markets like France and California. It will also help us expand our software development team in Halifax, accelerate our R&D projects in key wine markets, and help us to enhance our product offering for 2018 as we continue to help winemakers optimize yields, improve grape quality, manage irrigation and reduce damage from environmental factors like grapevine infection and frost.
Jonathan Rodwell, Director of Winemaking and Viticulture at Devonian Coast Wineries, a local partner, joined us at the event and spoke to the benefits he has experienced as a result of using our technology in his vineyard management practices, and the potential of emerging technologies like ours to “greatly expand our understanding of fundamental aspects of quality and productivity in the vineyard.”
“In order to grow a strong and sustainable economy in Atlantic Canada, the federal government is encouraging small and medium-sized businesses like VineView to innovate, pursue the commercialization of research and development, and generate value-added opportunities in resource-based industries such as agriculture. This pioneering company is building its strategic presence amongst the world’s leading wine regions by continuing to provide vintners with the world’s most advanced measurement of vine health,” said MP Samson as he closed the event.
2018 has already been an exciting year with the VineView Imaging and SkySquirrel Technologies merger, the welcoming of new employees, and the opportunities that arise with new funding and the support of your government. We are looking forward to expanding our operations in key wine growing regions, continuing to innovate, and raising the bar on the quality and accuracy of our EVI and grapevine disease detection data products.
If you are an experienced software developer and interested in helping VineView grow, send your resume and cover letter to careers@vineview.ca.