The provincial government has announced funding for two Kingston-based research companies, including $2.5 million for a company that tests for bacteria in municipal water systems.

ENDETEC, formerly Pathogen Detection Systems, Inc. (PDS) , was formed in the wake of the Walkertn, Ont., tainted water tragedy. The company has been awarded $2.5 million from the Ministry of Research and Innovation (MRI), Innovation Demonstration Fund (IDF) to expand their program of advanced monitoring systems.

The announcement was made at Innovation Park at Queen’s University May 26 by John Gerretsen, MPP for Kingston and The Islands. Representatives from ENDETEC and VWS joined government officials, Queen’s University and the Kingston Economic Development Corporation.
The funding will create an addition 20 new, high-skilled jobs by the end of the year.

PDS, an Ontario startup company, was founded on university researchers’ determination to find a faster, more effective way to monitor municipal water systems.

The technology is based on a novel fibre optic sensory technology developed by Dr. Stephen Brown and a team of scientists at Queen’s University, and industry researchers. The patented PDS system provides laboratory-grade testing for E.coli and other coliform bacteria with improved speed, reliability and productivity over current methods.

The company is experiencing significant expansion. The $2.5 million in MRI funding ensures the continuation of a three-year, $8.7 million development project for its next generation water monitoring systems.

ENDETEC also intends to grow its research partnership with Queen’s University. In the last five years, ENDETEC has invested approximately $1 million in direct research and development contracts with Queen’s. Over the next three years the total R&D activity with Queen’s is planned to increase to more than $2.3 million.

“This growth is an important step in the development of an advanced monitoring platform within VWS,” says David Dolphin, President of ENDETEC. “This funding from the Innovation Demonstration Fund helped to ensure that ENDETEC remained headquartered in Kingston and we plan to expand with a significant product development program.”

The expansion of ENDETEC is good news for Kingston, says Jeff Garrah, CEO of KEDCO.

“The province’s ongoing investment in local companies through programs such as the Innovation Demonstration Fund acknowledges Kingston’s strengths in research and commercialization. It also shows once again that Kingston is able to work on a global scale and we’re delighted that ENDETEC will continue to work and grow in Kingston,” says Garrah.

KPM funding to spur plant expansion

The day before the ENDETEC announcement, another Kingston company came into money from the province.

The province is providing $186,159 through the Eastern Ontario Development Fund to help Kingston Process Metallurgy (KPM) expand.

KPM is investing over $1.2 million towards the expansion project that includes relocating to a 12,000 sq.-ft.. building outfitted with new research and testing equipment.

KPM provides processes for extracting and purifying metals, breakthroughs that can lead to energy reduction, improved recovery, and address environmental issues.

The three-year project will create five new full-time jobs and one part-time job.

“KPM is a great example of a Kingston-based company that is competing — and winning — in global markets,” says Gerretsen. “This exciting project will help KPM continue to grow while creating skilled, high-value jobs in the local research and development industry.”

“This investment is another step forward in KPM’s continued growth in the community,” adds John Paul Shearer, KEDCO Director of Business Development.

“It provides significant support to their expansion to a new 12,000 square foot facility and increases their research and development initiatives which are broadening the services they can provide to clients on a global basis.”