October 14, 2009
Burnaby, British Columbia
Russ Hiebert, Member of Parliament for South Surrey-White Rock-Cloverdale, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced today a $5 million federal government investment towards the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) to establish an applied research and innovation facility and electric microgrid.
"Our Government's contribution to these two projects will help boost Canada's economy by further expanding BCIT's well recognized abilities in applied research and innovation," said Mr. Hiebert. "Our Government is proud to invest in an institution that will support vital research, sustainability and the economy."
"By investing in the new Centre for Applied Research and Innovation at BCIT we are investing in British Columbia's future – a future that includes a thriving knowledge-based economy," said Moira Stillwell, Minister responsible for Advanced Education and Labour Market Development. "The provincial government has contributed $1.5 million in capital and $2.69 million in research funding for this centre to ensure BCIT continues to help educate and find solutions for industry from health care, to IT, to bioenergy and geothermal applications."
A federal investment of $3 million will help BCIT establish the Centre for Applied Research and Innovation. Funding will complete space retrofits, relocation of existing operations and equipment for the Applied Research Liaison Office, Technology Centre and Advanced Prototyping Hub. Other activities will include hiring new staff, creating a Senior Industry Advisory Committee, marketing, outreach and delivering new commercialization program services. In addition to this funding received through Western Economic Diversification Canada start-up operations and activities will also be supported through National Research Council of Canada and the Province of British Columbia.
A second federal investment of $2 million from Western Economic Diversification Canada, will allow BCIT to develop a leading-edge electricity grid demonstration project. Federal funding for phase one of the three-phase initiative will design and construct an intelligent electric microgrid. The microgrid will act as a test platform for conducting applied R & D for next generation electricity grids. Project goals include improved energy grid reliability, efficiency and compatibility. British Columbia's Ministry of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development also approved $2.69 million from the Innovative Clean Energy Fund for the BCIT microgrid. The ICE Fund accelerates commercialization of clean energy technologies in British Columbia. The federal and provincial funding for this project were coordinated through the Western Economic Partnership Agreement. Federal funding is contingent upon the completion of a signed contribution agreement.
"Such funding support from Western Economic Diversification Canada will help sustain applied research initiatives at the BCIT Centre for Advanced Research and Innovation," said BCIT President Don Wright. "These projects will assist BCIT in continuing to deliver employer success and will help boost economic development across British Columbia."
BCIT, a Burnaby-based post-secondary institution, was established in 1964 with a focus on building success through applied education and research. With a total full and part time enrolment of approximately 48,000 students every academic year, BCIT is integral to the economic, social, and environmental prosperity of British Columbia and Western Canada.
Western Economic Diversification Canada works with the provinces, industry associations, and communities to promote the development and diversification of the western economy, coordinates federal economic activities in the West and represents the interests of western Canadians in national decision making.
For additional information, contact:
Donna Howes
Communications Manager
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Vancouver, British Columbia
Tel: (604) 666-1318
Cell: (604) 505-6616
Dave Pinton
Media Relations Coordinator
British Columbia Institute of Technology
Tel: (604) 432-8306
Cell: (778) 928-2288
dave_pinton@bcit.ca
WD Toll-Free Number:1 888 338-WEST (9378)
Teletypewriter (TTY): 1 877 303-3388
Website: WD is online at www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
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