The NRC extended the initial agreement to assist in further development and commercialization of the Company's proprietary technology ensuring the continuity of the original research team and aligning CRAILAR with the NRC National Program in Bioproducts announced in March 2007.
Under the terms of the Phase II Agreement, the Company will continue its collaboration with the NRC to develop novel enzymes for the processing of hemp fibers for the textile sector over a 3 year period that commenced in May 2007 and will conclude in May 2010.
During this period, the Company will continue to invest in research, development, marketing and business development of its proprietary CRAILAR technology. The total cost of the project is estimated at over (CAD) $3.5 million and all intellectual property developed under the agreement is available to the Company under exclusive worldwide license from the NRC.
Naturally Advanced Technologies Inc is committed to unlocking the potential of renewable and environmentally sustainable biomass resources from hemp and other bast fibers. NAT, through its wholly owned subsidiary CRAILAR Fiber Technologies Inc., is developing proprietary technology for production of bast fibers, cellulose pulp, and their resulting byproducts, in collaboration with Canada's National Research Council and the Alberta Research Council.