Government of Canada recognizes OmniGlobe Networks as a Canadian Innovation Leader
September 02, 2009, Montréal, Quebec
The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), today recognized OmniGlobe Networks Inc. as a Canadian Innovation Leader for developing high-tech solutions that help to improve satellite connectivity, cellular communications and broadband Internet access in remote and rural communities, 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.
"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."
OmniGlobe Networks’ connectivity solutions combine satellite, wireless and cellular technologies, providing efficient delivery of broadband Internet and cellular phone services in rural and remote areas.
"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 OmniGlobe Networks grow stronger, faster and larger."
The Montreal-based firm, which has offices across Canada, continues to expand on its satellite-wireless and satellite-cellular delivery technology through the development of a complete suite of online tools that can be used by local administrators to isolate network faults and resolve service issues.
Meanwhile, OmniGlobe Networks was recently recognized by Branham magazine as the fastest growing technology company in Canada in 2008.
"NRC-IRAP has played a key role in the development of OmniGlobe Networks’ unique and innovative technology," said Jason Neale, president and CEO of OmniGlobe Networks. "NRC-IRAP’s vision in supporting OmniGlobe, both financially and with valuable guidance, has helped turn the company from a bedroom venture into one of the fastest growing companies in Canada."
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.
OmniGlobe Networks Inc.
Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, OmniGlobe Networks Inc. is a global telecommunications company, delivering broadband, cellular and satellite communications products and services to geographic regions around the world where conventional telecommunications are unavailable, unreliable or too expensive.
Today, OmniGlobe Networks provides service to a diverse customer base, including domestic consumers, aboriginal communities, oil and gas, mining, and forestry companies, government agencies and private companies around the world. It employs nearly 80 employees worldwide and sells its services in more than 75 countries.
Since 2005, it has received technical and business expertise as well as financial contributions through NRC-IRAP totalling $414,000.
