Government of Canada recognizes Ultra-Tactical Communication Systems (TCS) as a Canadian Innovation Leader
August 28, 2009 , Montréal, Quebec
The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), today recognized Ultra-Tactical Communication Systems (TCS), a division of Ultra Electronics Canada Defence Inc., as a Canadian Innovation Leader for developing advanced radio communication systems for the defense and aerospace industry, linking scientific research to commercialization, jobs, and economic growth.
A Canadian Innovation Leader is a small- or medium-sized enterprise (SME) that demonstrates specific advances in research and development within its industrial sector. The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) created the Canadian Innovation Leader Certificate Program to recognize Canadian firms that have successfully developed and applied innovative technologies.
"Our government is investing more in science and technology because this is how to create jobs, strengthen the economy and improve the quality of life of Canadians," said Minister Goodyear. "Canada’s Economic Action Plan provides more than $5.1 billion toward science and technology initiatives. This represents one of the single-largest federal budget investments in S&T to date, contributing to the creation of a stronger, more innovative economy and a more prosperous Canada."
Ultra-Tactical Communication Systems is a leading global supplier of Ultra High Frequency (UHF) radio relay and area communications systems, operating primarily in a land forces environment of the military communications arena.
"Investing in science and technology is critical for developing highly skilled people and improving the long-term competitiveness of Canadian firms," said NRC President Dr. Pierre Coulombe. "That's why the NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) is helping innovative Canadian businesses such as Ultra-Tactical Communication Systems grow stronger, faster and larger."
"NRC-IRAP is playing an important role in our success" said Iwan Jemczyk, President of Ultra-Tactical Communication Systems. "The financial support we receive from NRC-IRAP, together with our strategic partnerships, are helping our company design, develop, and manufacture electronic systems for defense and aerospace markets worldwide."
The Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan has provided new resources of $200 million over the next two years to increase NRC-IRAP’s support for innovative Canadian firms. To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
Backgrounder
National Research Council Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP)
NRC’s main outreach to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is through its Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) which provides support to innovative companies in Canada undertaking research and technology development projects for commercial purposes.
NRC-IRAP provides a range of both technical and business-oriented advisory services along with necessary financial support to qualified innovative Canadian small- and medium-sized enterprises. The program is delivered by a field staff of 240 business and technology experts in more than 100 communities across Canada. Working directly with SMEs, NRC-IRAP supports innovative research and development (R&D) and helps companies become commercialization-ready with their new products and services.
While the program operates three separate contribution programs — contribution to firms, contribution to organizations and a Youth Employment Program — NRC-IRAP’s main contribution component is in the form of a non-repayable contribution that reimburses the labour costs of a research and development project directly to firms.
Putting science to work for Canada
NRC-IRAP received an investment in Budget 2009 – Canada’s Economic Action Plan – of $200 million over the next two years. NRC-IRAP is committed to using this new funding to help the Government build a competitive advantage for Canada based on excellence in science and technology (S&T).
The funding includes $170 million to double NRC-IRAP’s contributions to firms and $30 million to help hire more than 1,000 new post-secondary graduates via its Youth Employment Program.
The budget commitment reinforces NRC-IRAP’s mandate to help SMEs take knowledge from the lab to the marketplace. The budget commitment also broadens NRC-IRAP’s ability to provide S&T expertise to SMEs. NRC-IRAP estimates this will enable it to provide larger contributions to firms per project and allow it to support approximately 1,400 additional SMEs beyond the annual base over the next two years.
Canadian Innovation Leader (CIL) Certificate
A Canadian Innovation Leader is a small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) that demonstrated a specific advance in research and development within its industrial sector. This advance has contributed to the wealth of the country, either from a corporate growth perspective, job creation, or through a particular investment in research and development that has improved the lives of Canadians. NRC created the Canadian Innovation Leader (CIL) Certificate Program to recognize Canadian firms that have successfully developed and applied innovative technologies, linking scientific research to commercialization, jobs, and economic growth.
Ultra-Tactical Communication Systems (TCS) a division of Ultra Electronics Canada Defence Inc.
Ultra-Tactical Communication Systems (TCS) a division of Ultra Electronics Canada Defence Inc. is an innovative Montreal-based company, developing high-tech radio systems for the defense and aerospace industries.
These radio networks provide secure, battlefield high-capacity data, video and trunk telephone telecommunication services to link battlefield theatre commanders and their combat forces.
Since 2005, it has received technical and business expertise as well as financial contributions through NRC-IRAP totalling $125,000.
