Drummondville, Quebec, January 22, 2007 Acting
on behalf of the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Labour and
Minister of Canada Economic Development, Jacques Gourde, Member
of Parliament for Lotbinière-Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, today announced the
awarding of $399,500 in repayable funding to the firm Technologies HumanWare
Canada Inc. for the commercialization of new products on North American and
European markets.
Technologies HumanWare Canada Inc. is a world-class enterprise dedicated
to developing and marketing leading-edge products for the visually impaired. The
company's mission is to empower people with visual disabilities and enable them
to participate effectively in today's society.
The project is aimed at optimizing sales of three new products, notably a GPS
guidance system, digital assistant and digital book player. The result of
intensive R&D work conducted since 2002, these innovations will enable
the enterprise to expand the range of products it offers and broaden its
customer base to include people with learning disabilities.
Canada Economic Development has been a partner in the growth of
Technologies HumanWare Canada Inc. since 1996. Over this period, the Agency
has awarded the company four repayable contributions totalling $1,670,500,
supporting it through the critical stages of its development by helping to
finance research and development projects, the implementation of its technology
plan and the international marketing of its products.
"For nearly 20 years, Technologies HumanWare Canada Inc. has been
putting its experience and expertise at the service of the visually impaired.
This enterprise has improved the quality of life of thousands of people, and
Canada's new government is proud to help further the success of this world
leader," stated Jacques Gourde.
"Thanks to this project, 20 new jobs will be created, five of them in
the area of R&D. This is good news indeed for the region's economy," he
concluded.
This funding from Canada's new government is awarded
under Canada Economic Development's
IDEA-SME Program.
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Sources:
Lyne MontpellierCommunicationsCanada Economic
DevelopmentTel.: 819-371-5138 or 1-800-567-8637E-mail: lyne.montpellier@dec-ced.gc.ca
Roxane MarchandPress SecretaryOffice of the Honourable
Jean-Pierre BlackburnCanada Economic
DevelopmentTel.: 819-953-5646Cell.: 613-816-5094E-mail: roxane.marchand@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
