BioAlliance Connects UPEI Marketing Students and Business World
For the second year in a row, a group of fourth-year marketing students at UPEI's School of Business have been learning first-hand the business of bioscience, and as a result have earned recognition for their efforts from the Island's bioscience industry. Working with three local bioscience companies, eleven teams of business students have been designing marketing strategies for the companies' products and services that may be used in national and international promotions and sales activities.
This is the second year for the program, organized by the PEI BioAlliance and the UPEI School of Business. The purpose is to engage local bioscience companies and UPEI business students in a project that gives the students real marketing experience with products being produced by the growing PEI bioscience industry for global markets.
"This project is a terrific learning exercise for our students, and provides a great opportunity for them to showcase their talents," says Dr. Don Wagner, acting dean of the UPEI School of Business.
Rory Francis, Executive Director of the Prince Edward Island BioAlliance, said the interest and response was so positive last year, that both companies and faculty were anxious to incorporate the program into the UPEI Business curriculum again this year.
"We want the students to see and feel for themselves the exciting business opportunities that bioscience companies are creating here in PEI. Bringing new products to life is challenging and fascinating, and we hope this experience motivates these students to be part of PEI's future prosperity."
The National Research Council of Canada's Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) provides support to the BioAlliance in carrying out this and other initiatives that help grow small and medium sized bioscience enterprises in PEI.
Awards were presented for the Best Marketing Strategy for each of the three companies' products, and to overall winners at a reception held at the UPEI School of Business yesterday. The overall winning team included: Cayla Leger, Jennifer MacLean, and Brad Gallant for their marketing strategy developed for AquaBounty Canada Inc..
Participating companies for the Second Annual UPEI School of Business/PEI BioAlliance Marketing Strategy Competition included: AquaBounty Canada Inc., Atlantic AgriTech, and Tube Fab Ltd.
The Prince Edward Island BioAlliance is the cluster of individuals and organizations dedicated to building the bioscience-based economic sector in PEI, with an emphasis on collaborative initiatives in research, business, education, and supporting infrastructure.
For more information about the Prince Edward Island BioAlliance, contact rose@peibioalliance.com or by calling (902) 367-4403.
Photo: Rory Francis, Executive Director of the PEI BioAlliance (far left), and Valerie Barbosa, AquaBounty Canada Inc. (far right), present the BioAlliance Award for the UPEI School of Business Best Bioscience Marketing Strategy to the winning team comprised of Cayla Leger, Jennifer MacLean and Brad Gallant.
