Sherbrooke, Quebec, June 16, 2008 – The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Labour and Minister of Canada Economic Development, took the opportunity while attending today's official inauguration of the Centre de technologies avancées BRP – Université de Sherbrooke Inc. (CTA) to note that the Government contributed nearly $10 million in non-repayable funding toward the establishment of this facility, the first of its kind in Canada dedicated to research and development in the area of motorized recreational vehicles. The CTA project will result in the creation of some 50 high-skilled jobs and enable Quebec manufacturing firms to benefit from exceptional know-how in the field.
The result of a strategic partnership between the Université de Sherbrooke and Bombardier Recreational Products, the CTA will serve as the main instrument through which the multinational corporation intends to develop unique technological expertise and remain a world leader in its sector.
"Ultra-modern facilities, state-of-the-art equipment and highly-skilled staff will enable the CTA to develop marketable outputs. This Centre, which places the winning combination of knowledge and know-how at the service of basic and applied research, is one of the rare facilities to bring research, education and technology transfer under one roof. These are the characteristics that set it apart and bode well for its future success," explained Minister Blackburn.
The mission of the CTA is to promote the transfer of its knowledge to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in the sector as well as in other related industries. These companies will be able to use the results of the CTA's research and development activities to raise their technological capabilities and develop new recreational products. The CTA project is expected to help strengthen the competitiveness of enterprises in Quebec's recreational products cluster and facilitate their integration into BRP's production chains world-wide.
Of the 20 or so research projects that are expected to be carried out over the next five years, those centred on the development of environmental technologies will have a direct positive impact on the population's quality of life. Such projects involve the design and development of less polluting, quieter and more energy-efficient parts and components for these vehicles.
"In keeping with its commitment, the Government of Canada has been introducing measures to help build a strong economy and, to that end, is putting priority on the ideas and scientific and technological advances that will allow Canada to take its place among the world's most innovative countries while remaining internationally competitive. The CTA ranks among the strategic players that will help the Estrie region further build on its reputation as a hub of technological development in Quebec," Minister Blackburn added.
Canada Economic Development recently announced the addition of a new tool to its Strategic Plan for 2008-2011 intended expressly for small and medium-sized manufacturing firms. This new Innovation Support component, armed with a $32 million budget over three years, will enable enterprises in all regions of Quebec to benefit from support to improve the way they manage development of new products, processes and services and intensify their commercialization efforts.
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Sources:
Karina Gagnon
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 418-368-6048 or 1-866-368-0044
E-mail: karina.gagnon@dec-ced.gc.ca
Pierre Miquelon
Office of the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 514-496-1282
E-mail: pierre.miquelon@dec-ced.gc.ca
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