April 9, 2010
Aurora, Ontario — Ms. Lois Brown, Member of Parliament for Aurora-Newmarket, on behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), today announced a contribution of $220,000 to Axiom Group Inc. from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP).
The funding will support Axiom in developing a new thermal material for a food container, which could launch a second-generation of its popular ThermaPod product and could help create jobs. ThermaPod is an environmentally-friendly one-piece lunch box that looks like a laptop computer and is easy to clean and store.
"Our government is investing in science and technology to create jobs, strengthen the economy and improve Canadians' quality of life," said Ms. Brown. "This government is supporting Canadian firms that successfully develop and apply innovative technologies linking scientific research to commercialization, to jobs of the future and economic growth."
During the event, Ms. Brown also presented a Canadian Innovation Leader Certificate to Axiom Group to highlight its success as an innovative Canadian firm that has successfully linked scientific research to commercialization, jobs and economic growth.
"Investing in science and technology is critical for developing highly skilled people and improving the long-term competitiveness of Canadian firms," said NRC Acting President Daniel Gosselin. "That's why NRC-IRAP is helping innovative Canadian businesses like Axiom Group grow stronger, faster and bigger."
Formed in 1987, Axiom Group is divided into three divisions: Axiom Plastics, Axiom Tooling and Axiom Electronics. The company designs and develops a wide range of products and services, including wiring harnesses, prototype and production moulds for the automotive industry and engineering and design services.
"NRC-IRAP is playing an important role in the success of this innovative company," said Perry Rizzo, president of Axiom Group. "The financial support we receive from NRC-IRAP is helping Axiom Group develop a full complement of high-tech solutions for the automotive, plastics and electronics industries."
The National Research Council's Industrial Research Assistance Program 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. The Council 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 to the program over two years to support innovative Canadian firms.
