August 18, 2009, Ottawa, Ontario
The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of National Revenue and Minister of State (Agriculture), on behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), today recognized Alma-based Systèmes Easyblok Inc. as a Canadian Innovation Leader for developing an innovative dry construction system to simplify and accelerate building construction.
"The Government of Canada believes that funding in science and technology are investments in Canada's future," said Minister Blackburn. "Our ideas, innovation and inventiveness ensure our long-term economic competitiveness. Today, I am proud to recognize Systèmes Easyblok, a successful Canadian firm, as a Canadian Innovation Leader."
Founded in 2005, Systèmes Easyblok, a start-up company that is technically and financially supported by the BPDL group of companies, has developed an innovative dry construction system for simpler, easier and faster building construction. The company is working to create a turnkey solution for machine-tools, processes and raw materials plants to produce materials that are essential in building construction. The plants will be created by Systèmes Easyblok and sold to builders and contractors, similar to a franchise.
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.
"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 Systèmes Easyblok grow stronger, faster and bigger."
"Our company has grown and acquired its reputation by building major constructions such as stadiums, hotels and hospitals. We are pleased that the EASYBLOK project is opening doors to a totally new product line for mass residential constructions and will help families who are looking for an affordable and durable home," explained André Bouchard, president of BPDL. "NRC-IRAP's collaboration was essential for our project to succeed, due to the high cost of research and development. This partnership extends beyond financial support and we have built a partnership that will help advance our project that much further."
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- or medium-sized enterprise (SME) that demonstrates specific advance in research and development within its industrial sector. This advance must contribute 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.
Systèmes Easyblok Inc.
Systèmes Easyblok Inc. is a start-up company that is technically and financially supported by the BPDL group of companies.
The company has developed an innovative dry construction system for simpler, easier and faster building construction. The ultimate goal is to develop a turnkey system which will help Systèmes Easyblok create and provide machine-tools, processes, and raw-materials plants that will produce building components for resale to local constructors-contractors, similar to a franchise.
