A Short Story of Technology Transfer A Short Story of Technology Transfer From the Research Bench to the From the Research Bench to the MarketplaceMarketplace

Joe MeatingJoe MeatingPresidentPresidentBioForest Technologies Inc.BioForest Technologies Inc.

BioForest Corporate PhilosophyBioForest Corporate Philosophy

But keep moving!

Stand out in the crowd!

BioForest BioForest TechnologiesTechnologies

• Forest Health Consultants:Forest Health Consultants:• Detection & assessment surveysDetection & assessment surveys• Pest management strategies and Pest management strategies and

operationsoperations

• ~500 projects completed~500 projects completed• 8 full time staff8 full time staff• Offices – SSM, PQ & PAOffices – SSM, PQ & PA

WhereWhere

• ON, NB, NS, PQ, MN, SK, AB, BCON, NB, NS, PQ, MN, SK, AB, BC• USA – MI, PN, WI, MNUSA – MI, PN, WI, MN• Mississauga, Toronto, Hamilton, Mississauga, Toronto, Hamilton,

Oakville, Burlington, BrantfordOakville, Burlington, Brantford• Crown land & private landCrown land & private land• Commercial & recreational forestCommercial & recreational forest• Urban & rural forestUrban & rural forest• Boreal, GLSt.L, Carolinian…Boreal, GLSt.L, Carolinian…

Background ChronologyBackground Chronology

• 1980 – 1996: CFS /FIDS;1980 – 1996: CFS /FIDS;• 1994 – Unsettling rumours;1994 – Unsettling rumours;• Feb. 1995 – The “NEW” org chart!Feb. 1995 – The “NEW” org chart!• Feb. 1995 - The business plan Feb. 1995 - The business plan

(Perceptions);(Perceptions);• May, 1996 – BioForest Technologies May, 1996 – BioForest Technologies

Inc. opens its doors;Inc. opens its doors;• 1997 – Reality: “Wow this is a lot of 1997 – Reality: “Wow this is a lot of

work!”work!”• 1998 – Brainstorm: Analyze & revise 1998 – Brainstorm: Analyze & revise

the Business Plan.the Business Plan.

Something New: TreeAzin™ Systemic Something New: TreeAzin™ Systemic Insecticide & EcoJect® System for Tree Insecticide & EcoJect® System for Tree InjectionsInjections

A Canadian Solution! A Canadian Solution! BioForest enters the realm BioForest enters the realm of the giants.of the giants.

A Brief HistoryA Brief History

• 1990s - Dr. Blair Helson (CFS) developed 1990s - Dr. Blair Helson (CFS) developed neem-based systemic insecticides; neem-based systemic insecticides;

• 2001 – BFT: a pest management 2001 – BFT: a pest management problem; problem;

• 2001 - A workshop in Ottawa – 2001 - A workshop in Ottawa – professional networks;professional networks;

• 2002 - Informal collaboration for R&D; 2002 - Informal collaboration for R&D; • 2002 - BFT efficacy trials (GM, SBW 2002 - BFT efficacy trials (GM, SBW

FTC,);FTC,);• 2004 – EJT design and prototypes;2004 – EJT design and prototypes;• 2004 – Licence Agreement BFT/NRCan 2004 – Licence Agreement BFT/NRCan

to register & commercialize TreeAzin.to register & commercialize TreeAzin.

History contd.History contd.

• TreeAzin 2002 – 2009: TreeAzin 2002 – 2009: Efficacy trialsEfficacy trials Toxicological studiesToxicological studies Stability studiesStability studies Chemical Chemical

characterizationcharacterization Environmental fate Environmental fate

studiesstudies Residue analysis studiesResidue analysis studies Production facilityProduction facility Demonstration trialsDemonstration trials RegistrationsRegistrations

Canada: PMRA, provincialCanada: PMRA, provincial USA: EPA, stateUSA: EPA, state

First five litres!

History contd.History contd.

• EcoJect 2002 – 2009: EcoJect 2002 – 2009: Prototype design and testingPrototype design and testingProduction technologies (QA/QC) Production technologies (QA/QC) SuppliersSuppliersAssemblyAssemblyCost controlCost controlNAFTA complianceNAFTA complianceDemonstration trials, marketingDemonstration trials, marketing

EcoJectEcoJect®® System for Tree System for Tree InjectionsInjections

US Patent: March 2007

From Humble Beginnings:From Humble Beginnings: S Systemic ystemic TTree ree IInjection njection TTube (Helson’s STIT)ube (Helson’s STIT)

EcoJectEcoJect®® System System

Emerald Ash Borer: Emerald Ash Borer: Disaster = OpportunityDisaster = Opportunity

TreeAzin: Untreated and Treated AshTreeAzin: Untreated and Treated Ash

Maidstone Nursery

History contd.History contd.

• Feb. 2008: Emergency registration Feb. 2008: Emergency registration for EAB in ON and PQ;for EAB in ON and PQ;

• 2008: TreeAzin production & 2008: TreeAzin production & sales!sales!

• Oct. 2008: USEPA registration!Oct. 2008: USEPA registration!• 2009: complete submission for full 2009: complete submission for full

registration in Canada;registration in Canada;• 2009: Marketing in USA!2009: Marketing in USA!• 2020: Retire!!2020: Retire!!

Protection: Beware the vipers in Protection: Beware the vipers in the grass!the grass!

• Legal counsel Legal counsel • License agreement BFT/NRCanLicense agreement BFT/NRCan• EcoJect® SystemEcoJect® System• TreeAzin™ Systemic InsecticideTreeAzin™ Systemic Insecticide• Confidentiality agreementsConfidentiality agreements• Industry Canada, CIPO/WIPOIndustry Canada, CIPO/WIPO• WorkshopsWorkshops

From Bench to Market: Challenges From Bench to Market: Challenges for a Small Companyfor a Small Company

• Credibility;Credibility;• Resources: people, financial;Resources: people, financial;• Time/Quality ratio;Time/Quality ratio;• Staff: training & retention;Staff: training & retention;• Accounting & reporting: CRA, Accounting & reporting: CRA,

SR&ED, IRAP etc.;SR&ED, IRAP etc.;• Patience – Myth of the Patience – Myth of the

“overnight success.” “overnight success.” • Perseverance.Perseverance.

Words of WisdomWords of Wisdom

Success is the ability to go from failure to

failure without losing your enthusiasm.

Winston Churchill

…or your mind!

J. Meating

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

• Partners:Partners:• NRCan - Canadian Forest Service;NRCan - Canadian Forest Service;• NRC: Industrial Research Assistance Program;NRC: Industrial Research Assistance Program;• NDM;NDM;• NOHFC;NOHFC;• SKMOE, OMNR, NBDNR, MDNR;SKMOE, OMNR, NBDNR, MDNR;• Wisconsin & Minnesota DNR;Wisconsin & Minnesota DNR;• SERG-ISERG-I• Our families!Our families!

Would we do it again?Would we do it again?

We’ve already started!We’ve already started!

A final word of adviceA final word of advice

Celebrate the small successes!

Helen Gillespie