Innovative Sask. companies getting federal cash infusion

From new ways to process agrifoods, to the creation of medical isotopes for cancer treatments, to agricultural machinery that drives itself — innovative companies in Saskatchewan are being celebrated with an infusion of cash from the federal government.

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, on behalf of Western Economic Diversification, announced this past week 22 companies in Saskatchewan that he considered innovative will get a share of about $28 million dollars to help with their work.

Dot Technology Corporation is getting a $5 million repayable loan from the fund.

“The automated transportation systems, for example, is a field that is just exploding around the world. For Saskatchewan to have a niche in that market, to have a piece of the action could be extremely important, could be a huge opportunity for us to venture into a field that could pay enormous dividends for years to come,” said Goodale at the announcement.

Norbert Beaujot, president of Dot Technology Corporation, said the autonomous system has been a brainchild of his for about five years.

He described the product as an open platform that can pick up and farm with any equipment that’s made Dot ready. Beaujot said it replaces the driver and makes farming overall more efficient.

This kind of technology is needed around the world, according to Beaujot, because labour shortages in agriculture are causing food shortages around the world. He said farming equipment is more complex, and while there are people who can use it now, they’re retiring and getting out of the business.

“The young generation is very much in favour of autonomous agriculture, which is exciting, because moving young people back to the farm is a great thing,” explained Beaujot.

Dot’s CFO, Jeff Bourassa, said the company will use the money to scale up and ramp up sales of its autonomous farm machinery systems.

“Norbert and his team have spent a lot of years on the development side, and now it’s time to take it global,” Bourassa said. “We really are leading the world in this, so we’re hiring a lot of A-players and bringing them to Saskatchewan to help execute that.”

The money and commercialization will create between 50 and 70 jobs at Dot, according to Bourassa.

Goodale praised all the companies receiving money and what they’ve accomplished, saying getting your mind around what’s possible and then having the wherewithal to make bigger investments up front can be a challenge.

“I think it can be a real confidence builder for the business community in Saskatchewan to stick out their chest and be proud and brag a little bit about what we’ve got the ability to accomplish,” said Goodale. “It’s not just a theory; we’re accomplishing it right now — in North American markets and in global markets — all from a base right here in Saskatchewan.”