MONTREAL, Sept. 4, 2013 /CNW/ - Today federal Industry Minister James Moore announced the launch of a new Technology Demonstrator Program. The program will fund large-scale technology demonstration projects designed to prove the viability of newly developed technologies prior to bringing them to market.
The program, which was a key recommendation in the 2012 Emerson Report on aerospace and was first announced in the government's 2013 Economic Action Plan, provides $110 million over 4 years with a further annual commitment of $55 million thereafter. The government will be accepting project proposals as of today's announcement. Statements of interest for the first intake must be submitted by December 6, 2013, and approved projects will be announced by fall 2014.
"Technology demonstration is a vital part of bringing innovation to market, but it is very complex and involves high levels of risk," said Jim Quick, President and CEO of AIAC. "The program announced today will help our companies to develop and produce the kinds of cutting-edge products that are at the heart of what makes Canadian companies the best in the world."
Technology demonstration is the phase in the research and development (R&D) process in which new technologies are moved out of laboratories and tested in a series of increasingly realistic settings. These projects require extensive collaboration between industry and researchers and costly investments that can span years. By increasing the ability of researchers and companies to bring new technologies to the commercialization stage, the program will help to increase the industry's competitiveness, bolster supply chain development, and better support knowledge transfer from academic institutions into industrial applications.
"Through this new program, industry and government will work together to increase innovation and R&D intensity in Canada while creating highly-skilled, high-paying jobs for Canadians," said Quick. "We are very pleased with this announcement and thank Minister Moore and the government for their ongoing support of this important industry."
For more information, please read the Government of Canada press release and backgrounder, available at www.ic.gc.ca.
AIAC is the national association representing Canada's aerospace manufacturing and services sector. As the world's fifth-largest aerospace industry, Canada's aerospace sector generates more than $27 billion, exports 80% of its output, and dedicates over 20% of its activity to research and development (R&D). Aerospace is responsible for the employment of 170,000 Canadians. AIAC represents the interests of over 700 aerospace companies across Canada.
SOURCE: Aerospace Industries Association of Canada
Kristen VanderHoek, Director of Communications
Aerospace Industries Association of Canada
613 232-4297 x225, [email protected]
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