The Government of Canada is investing in the University of British Columbia (UBC) to strengthen leading-edge wireless technology. The funding will help the university establish essential wireless channel models and system guidelines, and foster collaboration between academia and industry.
The announcement of $293,000 was made today by James Moore, Member of Parliament for Port Moody-Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam and Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific Gateway) (2010 Olympics) (Official Languages).
"Our government is proud to help equip UBC with the leading-edge equipment needed to train students and foster collaborative research between academia and industry," said Secretary of State Moore on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification. "This initiative will help grow British Columbia's emerging wireless sector and increase its ability to compete in the global market."
Wireless propagation and channel modelling diagnose signal impairments in transmission due to signal obstruction, scattering and fading. These factors have an adverse impact on system reliability, coverage and performance.
The federal funding will allow UBC to purchase essential testing equipment to carry out a series of wireless propagation tests via mobile stations. This project addresses critical technical issues faced by industry, and will assist B.C.'s local market to design, simulate, develop and test wireless systems under extreme operating conditions.
"This important investment by the Government of Canada will help us address critical technical issues faced by industry, and will help wireless developers design, simulate, and test new types of wireless systems more effectively," said Prof. Dave Michelson, leader of the Radio Science Lab in UBC's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. "It will also play an important role in helping the wireless industry develop more reliable and robust wireless systems."
"As new industry sectors begin to integrate wireless into their operations, opportunities for wireless engineers in Western Canada continue to expand," said Kyle Sivertsen, a graduate student in Prof. Michelson's lab at UBC. "My colleagues and I are very appreciative of the opportunity to contribute to the wireless industry and prepare for an exciting career."
"Professor Dave Michelson and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering conduct research at the forefront of wireless communication and system design," said UBC Faculty of Applied Science Dean Michael Isaacson. "We are grateful for the investment by the Government of Canada that enables us to further the valuable research and collaborations that benefit the people-consumers and industry-of British Columbia and Canada."
Western Economic Diversification Canada is a department of the Government of Canada that works in partnership with the provinces, industry associations and communities to develop and diversify the western economy, as well as to represent the interests of the West in national decision-making.
The University of British Columbia holds an international reputation for excellence in advanced research and learning and has been consistently ranked among the world's top 40 universities. UBC offers more than 45,000 students a range of innovative undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in applied science, arts, science, medicine, law, commerce and other faculties. It is ranked within the top 10 North American universities in the number of U.S. life sciences patents, including spin-off company creation.
For additional information, contact:
Kathy Liu
Communications Officer
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Tel: (604) 666-7542
Cell: (778) 671-0273
Brian Lin
Communications Coordinator
UBC Public Affairs Office
Tel: (604) 822-2234
Cell: (604) 818-5685
