New Brunswick's research landscape is gaining momentum with a significant $1.5 million investment from ResearchNB into seven innovative projects spanning the province's key priority sectors: energy, oceans, agriculture, and health. Announced on May 11, 2026, by the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, this funding through the Priority Sector Development Fund underscores the province's commitment to leveraging academic expertise for economic growth and community resilience.

ResearchNB, a provincial Crown corporation, plays a pivotal role in fostering research excellence that aligns with New Brunswick's strategic economic drivers. By channeling resources into applied research led primarily by university researchers, the organization bridges academia, industry, and government to tackle real-world challenges. This latest round of awards highlights how higher education institutions like the University of New Brunswick (UNB) are at the forefront, driving solutions in sustainable energy, marine conservation, precision farming, and advanced healthcare.

Understanding New Brunswick's Priority Sectors

New Brunswick has identified four core sectors where it holds competitive advantages and untapped potential: energy, oceans, agriculture, and health. These areas not only represent traditional strengths—such as abundant hydropower and coastal resources—but also emerging opportunities like clean energy transitions and AI-enhanced healthcare. The Priority Sector Development Fund targets collaborative projects that deliver measurable impacts, from job creation to environmental sustainability.

For instance, the energy sector focuses on hydro innovations to support net-zero goals, while oceans research addresses fishery sustainability amid climate change. Agriculture emphasizes automation to counter labor shortages, and health initiatives aim to optimize patient care in rural settings. This strategic alignment ensures research translates into provincial prosperity.

Breakthrough in Maritime Infrastructure: Dr. Ian Church's Digital Twins

Leading the oceans sector charge is Dr. Ian Church from UNB, awarded $350,000 for a project creating digital twins of the Port of Saint John and Port of Belledune. Digital twins—virtual replicas integrating real-time data from ocean mapping, AI, IoT sensors, and 3D modeling—will simulate scenarios to boost port efficiency, security, and sustainability. Partners like Teledyne CARIS and Kongsberg Discovery bring industry expertise, promising enhanced trade resilience for New Brunswick's vital maritime economy.

This initiative exemplifies step-by-step innovation: data collection via sonar and drones, AI-driven predictive analytics, and stakeholder simulations for decision-making. With ports handling billions in cargo annually, improvements could add millions to GDP while reducing environmental footprints through optimized shipping routes.

Aquatic Ecology Mapping: Dr. Scott Pavey's Striped Bass Study

Dr. Scott Pavey, also at UNB, receives $97,645 to map striped bass distribution and juvenile Atlantic salmon predators in the Miramichi River using environmental DNA (eDNA). eDNA detects species from water samples, offering non-invasive monitoring superior to traditional netting. Collaborating with the Atlantic Salmon Federation, this project addresses declining salmon stocks, vital for commercial fishing worth $50 million yearly in NB.

The process involves sample collection, lab sequencing, AI modeling for distribution patterns, and policy recommendations. Findings could inform quotas, habitat restoration, balancing ecology and economy in NB's iconic fisheries.

Revolutionizing Hydro Power: Dr. Mohsen Mohammadi's Turbine Innovations

In energy, Dr. Mohsen Mohammadi's $220,000 UNB project develops overhaul techniques for hydroelectric turbines using advanced alloys, 3D metal printing, predictive maintenance, and digital twinning. NB's hydropower generates over 70% of electricity; efficient maintenance extends asset life, cuts costs by 20-30%, and supports clean energy exports.

Step-by-step: material analysis, prototype printing, simulation testing, field trials. This positions NB as a hydro tech leader.

Agricultural Robotics: Dr. Rickey Dubay's Modular Farm Bots

Dr. Rickey Dubay's agriculture project, funded $6,750 plus matching, designs lightweight modular robots with variable-grip arms for greenhouse tasks like picking delicate crops. Amid labor shortages (NB farms short 1,000 workers seasonally), automation boosts productivity 40%, reduces waste.

Development phases: design prototyping, AI grip algorithms, field testing in NB greenhouses. Scalable for potato, berry sectors.

AI in Healthcare: The STREAM-Health Initiative

Dr. Jon Sensinger leads UNB's $400,000 STREAM-Health with colleagues Dr. Ted McDonald and Dr. Stijn De Baerdemacker. Using synthetic data and 'curious AI' (self-improving algorithms), it optimizes hospital flows, predicts bottlenecks, protects privacy via anonymized datasets. NB hospitals face wait times 20% above national average; this could save millions, improve outcomes.

Implementation: data generation, AI training, pilot in Horizon Health Network, scaling province-wide.

Health Ergonomics and Place Names Research

Complementing UNB efforts, Dr. Michelle Cardoso at Université de Moncton advances health care ergonomics, optimizing workflows to reduce injuries (health workers face 25% higher risk). Dr. Lauren Beck explores Indigenous and historical place names for better planning, governance, fostering reconciliation and community ties.

These projects highlight diverse higher ed contributions across NB institutions.

The Pivotal Role of New Brunswick Universities

Universities like UNB (five projects, over $1M) and Université de Moncton drive 70% of funded research, training next-gen researchers while partnering industry. UNB's multi-campus strength (Fredericton, Saint John) enables interdisciplinary teams. This funding sustains 50+ jobs, leverages $2M+ matching investments.

• UNB: Engineering, biology, AI expertise.
• UdeM: Kinesiology focus.
• Potential MtA involvement in humanities.

Economic and Societal Impacts

These initiatives project $10M+ economic ripple over five years via IP, startups, jobs. Health projects cut costs $5M annually; oceans/agriculture sustain $2B industries. Quotes: Minister D’Amours: “Investment in NB’s future.” CEO Pollack: “Powerful tool for economy and quality of life.”

Broadens access to research careers; see research jobs in Canada.

Photo by Hermes Rivera on Unsplash

Challenges, Solutions, and Future Outlook

Challenges: Funding competition, talent retention. Solutions: Multi-year support, industry ties. Future: More rounds, federal alignment. NB aims 20% R&D GDP growth by 2030. Researchers optimistic for scaled impacts.

Explore official announcement and higher ed research roles.