December 18, 2006
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - 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)
Web Site: WD is online at
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.
