Western Economic Diversification Canada
www.wd-deo.gc.ca
Common menu bar links
News Releases
Federal and Provincial Governments invest in Western Research
MPs Rahim Jaffer and James Rajotte during the demonstration and tour of TRLabs.
Western Canada's growing information technology sector got a boost today with an important investment in TRLabs, Canada's largest and most successful not-for-profit information and communications technology research and development consortium. Funding for this announcement includes a $10 million federal investment in TRLabs from Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) and $2.4 million from the Government of Saskatchewan, over five years.
"Canada's New Government is ensuring Saskatchewan communities have the support they need to convert bright ideas into commercial products that respond to global market demands," said the Honourable Carol Skelton, Minister of National Revenue and Minister of Western Economic Diversification. This investment in TRLabs will help propel Canada to the forefront of international telecommunications technology while generating positive employment opportunities, skills development and economic growth across Western Canada."
Funding announced today will support the core operations in Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, Regina and Winnipeg. University professors, graduate students, industry, and staff researchers will work together to conduct applied research in information and communications technology.
"Saskatchewan has a growing information and communications technology sector and is recognised worldwide for excellence and innovation in telecommunications," Saskatchewan Industry and Resources Minister Eric Cline said. "TRLabs has been an important contributor to the research and development that leads to the commercialization of new technologies, and provides yet another example of why this province is innovative by nature."
The federal and provincial funding agreements will help ensure that the 50 members (including 37 industry members) comprising the TRLabs research consortium benefit from the organization's continuing efforts to develop new technology, advance knowledge in information and communications technologies, and train university students for leadership roles in Canadian industry.
"This investment in TRLabs enables us to continue to provide our members with an important service that feeds job creation and future prosperity in this key industry," said TRLabs President and CEO Dr. Roger Pederson. "The new technology and highly skilled university graduates we produce are more important than ever in a sector that enables productivity in all other economic sectors, grows at twice the rate of the broader economy, and is Canada's largest research and development (R&D) spender and employment generator."
TRLabs partners include major multinational and national corporations from the information technologies and telecommunications field; the Universities of Manitoba, Alberta, Calgary, Regina, Saskatchewan; the Governments of Canada, Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan; and 37 companies, the majority of which are small and medium-sized enterprises.
The investment in TRLabs being announced today at events in Winnipeg, Edmonton and Saskatoon includes $10 million from the federal government, $2.4 million each from the Governments of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and $7.5 million from the Government of Alberta for a total of $22.3 million.
For additional information, contact:
Brenda Tarasiuk
A/Manager of Communications
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Tel: (306) 975-5943
Todd MacKay
Communications Advisor
Ministers’ Regional Office
Tel: (306) 780-3244
Bob Ellis
Director, Public Affairs
Industry and Resources
Tel: (306) 787-1691
Chris Fields
Manager, Corporate Development
TRLabs
Tel: (403) 862-4011
WD Toll-Free Number:1-888-338-WEST (9378)
Teletypewriter (TTY): 1-877-303-3388
WD Website: www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
Subscribe to news releases and keep up-to-date on the latest from WD.
Backgrounder
Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD)
- Western Economic Diversification Canada works in partnership with the provinces, industry associations and communities to stimulate and diversify Western Canada’s economy, as well as to represent the interests of the West in national economic policy.
- WD is announcing a $10 million investment in TRLabs, which will support the core operations of the laboratories in Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, Regina and Winnipeg over a five-year period (2006-2011).
- WD has invested more than $27 million in TRLabs, in addition to the $10 million announced today, which was directed towards core operations and other specialized initiatives.
- WD’s investment, made through its Western Diversification Program (WDP), supports the Government of Canada’s commitments to invest in research, development and technology commercialization; support small and medium-sized enterprises; and promote a diversified and expanded business sector.
- The underlying objective of the WDP is to create a stronger West and a stronger Canada. Several guiding principles are used to help assess how initiatives contribute to this objective, including:
- increased economic activity that improves the viability, prosperity, and standard of living for individuals and communities across Western Canada.
- increased economic research in the areas of community economic development, leading-edge technologies and entrepreneurship to provide a sound base for economic development in areas of importance to Western Canada.
- Other elements that are considered when determining the relative merit of proposals include: the measurable impact on the western Canadian economy, viability, long-term benefits, and the participation of other stakeholders.
Saskatchewan Industry and Resources
- Saskatchewan Industry and Resources is the lead provincial agency for promoting economic development in the province in encouraging growth of key industrial sectors. Industry and Resources works with other government departments to ensure that a favourable climate exists for business growth. The Department is also the lead agency in marketing the province, both within and outside Saskatchewan.
- The Government of Saskatchewan has been a funding partner for TRLabs since 1991. Industry and Resources is contributing $2.4 million to TRLabs to be used over the next five years.
TRLabs
- Since its inception in 1986 as a not-for-profit entity, TRLabs has evolved to become Canada’s largest Information and Communications Technology (ICT) applied research consortium. It operates a tripartite partnership between industry, academia, and government, with activities spanning Western Canada, particularly Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
- TRLabs’ headquarters are in Edmonton, and it has physical laboratory locations in Edmonton, Calgary, Regina, Saskatoon and Winnipeg. The five labs employ university professors, graduate students, industrial partners and staff researchers.
- TRLabs creates innovative technologies and trains students to enhance ICT expertise and improve Canada’s global competitiveness. Activities focus on applied research, application development, prototype development, technology demonstration, testing, verification and certification, and pre-commercialization assistance.
- Over the last 20 years, TRLabs has trained 840 students, commercialized 310 technologies and issued and/or filed 160 patents.
TRLabs Saskatchewan
- TRLabs Saskatoon (est. 1992) employs 47 researchers and graduate students in the areas of ICT, microsystems and wireless.
- TRLabs Regina (est. 1996) employs 20 researchers and graduate students in the area of digital media - enabling technologies that improve sensory reception, interpretation and value of information.
- TRLabs' success at contributing to the growth of Saskatchewan's ICT industry has included training of 150 Masters and Ph.D. students in Computer and Electrical Engineering, generation of 23 patents issued or filed, and the production of 12 industry-commercialized technologies in the last five years. Graduates remaining in Saskatchewan reached 50% during the last three years.
Archives : 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000
