Government of Canada recognizes Systèmes d'Énergie et Propulsion EPS Inc. as a Canadian Innovation Leader
September 09, 2009 , Ottawa, Ontario
The Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, on behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), today recognized Systèmes d’Énergie et Propulsion EPS Inc. as a Canadian Innovation Leader for developing high-tech electronic-propulsion solutions for cyclists, 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 Paradis. "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."
Systèmes d’Énergie et Propulsion EPS’ BIONX system can be installed on most bicycles by replacing the rear wheel with a motor-wheel. This system can be retrofitted on most bicycle models, including road, mountain, tandem, folding, and recumbent bicycles and tricycles.
"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 d’Énergie et Propulsion EPS grow stronger, faster and larger."
"NRC-IRAP support is playing an important part in helping EPS develop innovative technology, leading to a new product and new commercial opportunities,” said Jean-Yves Dubé, Vice Chairman of the board for Systèmes d’Énergie et Propulsion EPS. “NRC-IRAP support is also helping us leverage other sources of funding. Today, EPS along with its BIONX product is recognized as a world leader in the development of high-tech electronic-propulsion solutions for cyclists.”
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.
Systèmes d’Énergie et Propulsion EPS Inc.
Systèmes d’Énergie et Propulsion EPS Inc. is an innovative Sherbrooke, Quebec-based company, developing high-tech electronic-propulsion solutions for cyclists.
Founded in 1998, the company has received technical and business expertise as well as financial contributions through NRC-IRAP totalling $123,983.
