Honouring Nova Scotia veterans of Springboard

Dalhousie Professor James Robar co-founded Adaptiiv Medical Technologies to make radiation treatment more comfortable for patients. The company 3-D prints body covers to protect health tissues during radiation. Springboard was there at the very early stages of his entrepreneurial journey, helping him commercialize his ideas. The company Adaptiiv now has 30 highly skilled employees, and his technology has been exported to 18 countries.  Dr. Robar’s commercialization journey has made him one of Springboard’s superstars.

Another seasoned Springboard veteran comes from a background in environmental science, business technology, and IP. He has worked to help industry solve problems, and over the years, he has recognized that the most successful collaborations are initiated by industry.  

Kevin started a course on IP and knowledge mobilization which is a requirement of a PhD and Applied Science program at SMU 

He has been an important member of the Springboard Innovation Mobilization committee, reviewing countless applications that have resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in awards to Network institutions. He also contributed to the renewal.  

Leigh is one of the Springboard’s originals. She came to Network in its earliest days with a background in tech-based start-ups where she specialized in commercializing  IP.  

She has been instrumental in guiding Springboard and Acadia activities beyond tech transfer and towards a broader spectrum of industry and community engagement in the Valley business ecosystem and across Atlantic Canada.   

Leigh has supported advancements in the wine industry’s state-of-the-art food and beverage testing facilities. This has enabled local businesses to export their products. 

Leigh has been instrumental in helping Springboard with renewal of funding from ACOA. 

Sarah is CBU’s first full-time and only Springboard representative on that campus.  

With a background in technology and international marketing, she engages students and researchers across all disciplines to understand their work and assess its potential.  

She also makes it part of her job to go out into the community to get to know the business community and seek out opportunities for   collaborations across Cape Breton.  

Sarah has also contributed her time and knowledge to Springboard Innovation Mobilization files, reviewing applications which have resulted in awards. 

Andrew has also been with the Springboard Network since its beginnings. 

As a geologist, he worked in oil and gas exploration sites around the world and as a policy analyst.

He works in all aspects of research and industry collaborations and is best known for his support of the Flux Lab and its successful spinoffs in measuring greenhouse gas emissions. 

We salute and thank Andrew for his work and wish him well in his retirement.

When she was an Industry Engagement Professional at the Dalhousie, Doris Grant guided Dr. James Robar through the commercialization process which helped him access Springboard support for his startup Adaptiiv Medical Technologies.

This was just one of Doris’ successes at Dalhousie and Springboard. She supported hundreds of researchers and facilitated the distribution of more than 600 grants. She continues to deploy that knowledge and enthusiasm in leadership roles in the life sciences innovation ecosystem. 

Chris Mathis became the first full-time President and CEO of Springboard Atlantic in 2011.  During his tenure, he transformed the governance and operations at Springboard, adding the voices of industry to the board of directors and helping Springboard bridge the gap between academia and industry. Under his leadership, Springboard evolved into a dynamic Network of post-secondary institutions working collaboratively to help industry solve real-world problems with research. He remained in the role until 2017 and is now working as a consultant and investor in the tech ecosystem.

Peggy worked in research commercialization and industry engagement Dalhousie and Acadia. In 2020 she retired – for the first time. but then retired to work in the Springboard Central Office to manage Springboard’s flagship Innovation Mobilization fund. She also managed Springboard’s social media and communications roles. Peggy’s deep knowledge of research commercialization and industry engagement – along with her many other talents and her steady hand – has made her the backbone of Springboard. She is widely-respected research commercialization ecosystem in Nova Scotia. She is now off to her second retirement, which is well-deserved.