The Ontario government is supporting a more than $13 million investment by Norgen Biotek Corp. to scale up production of its COVID-19 saliva-based test kit, with $1 million in support through the Ontario Together Fund.
The COVID-19 saliva-based diagnostic kit doesn’t require specialized training to use, unlike swab-based diagnostic kits. That aligns with the latest diagnostic trends.
Norgen is investing in its Thorold facilities to support upgrades, modifications and equipment and production materials. The project is expected to create 105 jobs and retain 117. The total investment is $13,050,000.
Established in 1998, Norgen Biotek is a biotechnology company focused on developing products for sample collection, sample preparation and sample detection, as well as providing comprehensive research services to the scientific community. Its 24,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility is in Thorold.
As we continue to ramp up vaccinations, it is more important than ever to ensure we are well prepared for any future challenges. Our government continues to support projects that will transform our ability to respond to a crisis, provide greater resilience, and strengthen our health care system while boosting our manufacturing sector.
Ontario is investing an additional $50 million in the Ontario Together Fund in 2021–22, to continue supporting local businesses to further enhance domestic supply chain capacity, help to get us through this pandemic and ensure our preparedness for future challenges.
- The renewed Ontario Together Fund is focusing on supporting homegrown manufacturing and innovation to combat COVID-19 and provide other goods critical to the health, safety, and security of Ontarians under the following strategic pillars:
- Strengthening Ontario’s domestic manufacturing capacity.
- Supporting homegrown technologies and innovative solutions.
- Strengthening Ontario’s MedTech ecosystem.
- Ontario Invests in COVID-19 Test Kits Made in Thorold | Ontario Newsroom