Innovacorp, Nova Scotia’s technology commercialization agency, has received 142 applications for its biennial I-3 competition, up almost 7 percent from two years ago and reflecting particular interest in the Halifax area.

Dawn House, spokeswoman for the agency, said Innovacorp is pleased with the numbers as it had set a target of 100 submissions.  It had received 133 submissions two years ago.

The Halifax region accounted for the lion’s share of the submissions with 69, up from 54 in 2009. Cape Breton was second with 27 submissions, followed by 24 from Digby and the Annapolis Valley, 16 from the northern mainland and six from the South Shore and Yarmouth.  

Innovacorp started the competition in Cape Breton in 2005-6, trying to create a sort of American Idol for entrepreneurs on the island and it was such a roaring success that Innovacorp made it province-wide two years later.  

The I-3 competition awards $100,000 in cash and services to winners in five regions across the province, and then another $100,000 to the provincial winner.

Innovacorp will conduct the first round of judging Nov. 1-4 and the shortlist will be announced on Nov. 8.