The Honourable Rob Nicholson, PC, QC, Member of Parliament for Niagara Falls and Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, on behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), today announced a contribution to Reif Estate Winery Inc. from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP).
The funding supports research and development projects that focus on developing innovative solutions for the winemaking industry.
"Our government is committed to building a competitive advantage for the Canadian private sector and supports these leading-edge technology solutions," said Minister Nicholson. "The Government of Canada is investing in science and technology to create jobs, strengthen the economy and improve Canadians’ quality of life.”
This $194,600 contribution will support the Niagara-on-the-Lake-based company in three projects that will improve filtration systems for producing ice wines, innovate solutions that will help develop production methods for new products, and research new techniques for improving the production process.
"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 NRC-IRAP is helping innovative Canadian businesses such as Reif Estate Winery grow stronger, faster and bigger."
Reif Estate Winery produces world-renowned wines through innovative processes. Since 1989, Reif Estate Winery and NRC have successfully collaborated on 14 projects, linking scientific research to commercialization, jobs, and economic growth.
At the event, Reif Estate Winery is also being recognized as a Canadian Innovation Leader, 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. NRC created the Canadian Innovation Leader Certificate Program to recognize Canadian firms that have successfully developed and applied innovative technologies.
"NRC-IRAP is playing an important role in the success of our company,” said Klaus Reif, President and Chief Executive Officer of Reif Estate Winery. "The financial support we are receiving from NRC-IRAP will help us to continue producing world-class wines for the global marketplace."
About NRC and NRC-IRAP
The NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (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 professionals in more than 100 communities across Canada. NRC-IRAP is committed to working with small and medium-sized enterprises while they realize their full potential, turning knowledge and innovation into strategic opportunities, jobs and prosperity for all Canadians.
The Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan has provided new resources of $200 million over the next two years to bolster NRC-IRAP support for innovative Canadian firms. To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
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 SMEs. 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.
Science at work for Canada
NRC-IRAP received an investment in Budget 2009, Canada’s Economic Action Plan, of $200 million over the next two years. This is new money. 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 that this new money will allow it to support approximately 1,400 additional SMEs 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.
Reif Estate Winery Inc.
Reif Estate Winery Inc. is an innovative company that produces world-renowned vineyard wines through a process of thinning and pruning the vines. It continues to innovate leading-edge winemaking solutions by selectively combining new technologies with traditional winemaking techniques.
This $194,600 contribution will support the Niagara-on-the-Lake-based company in three projects that will improve filtration systems for producing ice wines, innovate solutions that will help develop production methods for new products, and research new techniques for improving the production process.
Reif Estate Winery also works collaboratively with partners from industry, government, and academia, including Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the University of Guelph, Brock University, Cool Climate Oenology, Viticulture Institute, and Niagara College.
Meanwhile, NRC-IRAP offices continue to provide independent technical and business case assessments for Reif Estate Winery projects.
Winemaking experts at Reif Estate Winery collaborate and share innovative techniques with wineries and grape growers across Canada, including companies in southern Ontario in the Niagara region, Essex County and Prince Edward County, as well as companies in British Columbia.
