01.11.2022

November Newsletter – Syniad Innovations

SYNIAD INNOVATIONS

Syniad Innovations launches the first venture from McGill University – CataLum Technologies.

CataLum is a sustainable chemical company that displaces heat and pressure with light enabling the potential for dramatically more efficient chemical manufacturing. At the heart of the innovation is a photocatalyst system invented at the research laboratory of Canada’s leading green chemist, Prof. CJ Li. The company will focus its first efforts on climate-smart electro-fuels, but it has shown the ability to produce other carbon-intensive chemicals, such as ammonia, without the high carbon emissions and costs typically associated with their production.

CataLum’s core photocatalysis technology represents the culmination of over two decades of research by Prof Li, and scientific co-founders Dr. Siting Ni and Lida Tan at McGill University. The team, working out of the University’s Green Chemistry Laboratory, invented the high-atom efficiency technology while investigating the interactions of light and matter at the nanoscale, but the breakthrough came when the team began to merge semiconductor manufacturing technologies. Not only did this result in record conversion efficiencies, but it also delivered a scalable pathway for manufacturing, a critical barrier for today’s climate tech companies.

Supported by McGill’s Technology Transfer Office, Syniad’s Frederic Francis, and Iain Evans, saw the business potential for the laboratory’s breakthrough and have set it on a path to commercialization.

“We are thrilled to be able to work with Prof. Li, Dr. Ni and Lida Tan on this incredible technology portfolio. It wouldn’t have been possible without the incredibly positive relationship that has been established with McGill University, and in particular with Mark Weber and Chris Corkery, who have been outstanding. We have an exciting development plan for this breakthrough innovation which is positioned to create a portfolio of fossil-free chemicals that to date have been out of reach for many industrial sectors”, said Syniad’s CIO Iain Evans.

Gemina Laboratories (In vitro diagnostics)

Gemina Laboratories Ltd. (CSE: GLAB) (FRA: 817) has signed an agreement with International Point of Care, Inc to manufacture its Legio XTM COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test. The agreement includes a Manufacturing Agreement, a Supply Agreement and a License Agreement outlining the circumstances under which IPOC will manufacture the Legio XTM Test in Canada to satisfy demand from distributors in CE Mark eligible jurisdictions.

The agreements entered build on the successful partnership between IPOC and Gemina that commenced in 2021. To date, IPOC has provided contract services to Gemina throughout the transfer to the manufacturing phase of the Legio XTM Test’s development, which were necessary precursors to the granting of the Test’s CE Mark and its commercial product launch. In a strong show of confidence in the Legio XTM Test, IPOC has offered to defer $500,000 of invoicing costs, covering the final stages of product validation. The $500,000 deferral may be repaid to IPOC from Gemina’s share of product revenues. Alternatively, IPOC has the ability to convert any outstanding portion of the $500,000 into common shares of Gemina at a conversion price of $0.60 per share.

Garth Styba, President of IPOC, stated “It’s absolutely wonderful to be on the brink of scale manufacturing with Gemina. The combined IPOC and Gemina teams have achieved something truly impressive – converting a new chemistry for diagnostics into a regulated, marketable product in just one year. We think the Gemina technology is a game-changer in our industry – it’s been exciting to have been involved with this team and technology from the beginning.”

Anodyne Chemistries (Synthetic biotechnology and renewable chemicals)

Anodyne has been shortlisted for two federal funding programs. One program accelerates Anodyne’s ability to produce sustainable chemicals from natural and industrial gases. The second program will allow the company to demonstrate the efficacy of its engineered enzymes in the agriculture sector. Anodyne has also recently been awarded a package of support from NRC IRAP that will help support the development of the company’s intellectual property strategy and strengthen its engineering team. The company has also recently benefited from support from two programs that support highly-skilled early career researchers apply their skills in the industry.

On technology this month Anodyne filed a patent focused on its nanowire technology, which when granted, will provide the company broad protection across a wide range of compositions. This will enable the company to match the best-performing enzyme with the highest-performing nanowire, making the overall system a much more extensible chemical platform.