Toronto's
ZBx Corporation, based in Don Mills, has grown rapidly after developing the ZAP rapid diagnostic test, which can help identify various ailments on the spot in 10 to 15 minutes, using a single drop of blood drawn from a finger. Founded in 2002 with two employees, the company has now grown to employ 11 staff as it
prepares to bring its product to market around the world.
In
a speech delivered at ZBx headquarters last week, federal Minister of State for Science and Technology Gary Goodyear said the company was "a perfect example of what our government wants to achieve with our innovation agenda." He noted that over a period of years, ZBx was a
recipient of several grants through the National Research Council's Industrial Research Assistance Program.
ZBx president and CEO Doug Ball recently told the
National Post that the granting program is "the unsung hero in the Canadian bio-medical sector. They do an excellent job of picking projects to support, assisting entrepreneurs to go where Canadians have never gone."
Writer: Edward Keenan
Sources: Michèle-Jamali Paquette, Office of Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology); ZBx Corporation,
Financial Post