Key Sectors

Fisheries

A globally renowned fisheries region.

A highly developed ecosystem of over 1,100 companies including MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) certified fisheries and niche producers.

Part of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster

Western Nova Scotia provides unparalleled greenfield opportunities in fisheries

Creative entrepreneurs in health foods, agri-foods, nutraceuticals, pharma, energy, fishing vessel technologies, alternative fuels, advanced manufacturing technologies, safety upgrades

Low competition environment with few recyclers /processing of waste resources in the region

Artificial ecosystem development inland systems such as closed aquaculture ad fish hotels

World-class fisheries R&D network e.g. Laboratory for Innovation in Science and Industry at Université Sainte-Anne, NSCC Applied Oceans Research team etc

Innovation in boat building

An evolving bio-science led fisheries industries ecosystem

Talent

  • Available and affordable land ranging from approximately $5,000 to $7,500 USD
  • Low wage costs. Nova Scotia’s average annual wage is $49,700, 12.8% than the national average at $57,000. Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Income Survey, 2016

Access to major markets: a million in the province and 135 million in North Eastern U.S. within a day’s drive, Portland, ME 4 hours by ferry, and immediate proximity to Canada’s Ultra Atlantic Gateway in Halifax with multi-modal market access to more than 150 countries.

For further information click here.

Forestry

Tap into Nova Scotia’s $2.1 billion forestry industry

90% of Nova Scotia’s 5.5 million hectares is forested. Source: Forest Nova Scotia

Source: Forest Nova Scotia

85% of forests in Nova Scotia regrow naturally

Exceptional biomass opportunities with only 0.78% of Nova Scotia’s forests harvested annually

Sustainable forestry opportunities. Resources and appetite to leverage the full extent of the forestry value chain from roundwood, to lumber, to glulam, cross-laminated timber (CLT), to manufacturing, to biomass from forest residues.

Distributed energy opportunities. A proven distributed energy model at Université Sainte-Anne.

Talent

  • Access talent from the Sustainable Forest Management program
  • 15% of population employed in natural resources, agriculture and related production occupations
  • Ranked # 1 compared to closest competitors in terms of labour availability with 11.1%. Source: fDi Intelligence from the Financial Times

Highly Developed Innovation Ecosystem e.g. Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) program, Canada’s largest geomatics-focused learning environment at the Centre of Geographic Sciences (COGS) etc

Access to major markets: a million in the province and 135 million in North Eastern U.S. within a day’s drive, Portland, ME 4 hours by ferry, and immediate proximity to Canada’s Ultra Atlantic Gateway in Halifax with multi-modal market access to more than 150 countries.

For further information click here.

Renewable Energy

Where sustainability meets profitability

Part of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster to promote the knowledge-based ocean economy

Green province – renewable electricity plan of 40% renewable energy by 2020

A full spectrum of renewable energies:

  • Solar exposure levels over 1,100 kWh per sq. m
  • The Bay of Fundy – highest tidal range in the world (tides up to 27.6 ft)
  • Exceptional biomass opportunities with only 0.78% of Nova Scotia’s forests harvested annually
  • Exceptional biomass opportunities with only 0.78% of Nova Scotia’s forests harvested annually
  • 14 wind energy farms
  • A proven distributed energy model at Université Sainte-Anne

Opportunities across:

  • Solar
  • Marine
  • Anaerobic Digestion
  • Biomass
  • Distributed Energy

Highly Developed Innovation Ecosystem e.g. Acadia University’s Fundy Energy Research Network, Laboratory for Innovation in Science and Industry at Université Sainte-Anne etc

Talent

  • More than 70% of the region’s residents possess a certificate, diploma or degree
  • 15% of population employed in natural resources, agriculture and related production occupations
  • Ranked # 1 compared to closest competitors in terms of labour availability with 11.1%. Source: fDi Intelligence from the Financial Times

Access to major markets: a million in the province and 135 million in North Eastern U.S. within a day’s drive, Portland, ME 4 hours by ferry, and immediate proximity to Canada’s Ultra Atlantic Gateway in Halifax with multi-modal market access to more than 150 countries.

For further information click here.