Québec, Quebec, May 19, 2010 – The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, today announced the awarding of $200,000 in repayable funding from Canada Economic Development to Telops Inc. The Minister of State also announced on behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), the granting of a $188,770 non-repayable contribution to the firm through National Research Council Canada's Industrial Research Assistance Program ( NRC-IRAP).
Operating in Quebec's optics-photonics sector, Telops specializes in the design, manufacture and sale of hyperspectral infrared cameras capable of remotely detecting, identifying and measuring previously imperceptible substances. The company has just designed a new infrared camera for scientific use.
These financial contributions from the Government of Canada will allow Telops to develop two test prototypes of the new infrared camera and commercialize them on United States and European markets.
“The Government of Canada is proud to support Telops in its strategic undertaking. This company has all of the potential needed to improve its competitiveness, and providing support to innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is at the very core of our mission,” explained the Minister of State. “Telops, like many innovative export firms, serves as a model to others. In promoting a Canadian invention abroad, this enterprise is in a certain sense exporting its exceptional technical knowhow.”
“Our government invests in science and technology because these investments create jobs, stimulate the economy and improve quality of life for Canadians. We support Canadian businesses that succeed in designing and using innovative technologies that span the distance between scientific research and commercialization, job creation and economic growth,” commented Minister Goodyear.
Canada Economic Development's mission is to promote the long-term economic development of the regions of Quebec by giving special attention to those where slow economic growth is prevalent or where opportunities for productive employment are inadequate. In carrying out this mission, the Agency promotes cooperation and complementarity with Quebec and its communities.
Through its 14 business offices, the Agency acts in support of a clientele composed primarily of small and medium-sized enterprises and non-profit organizations, providing repayable and non-repayable financial assistance through its various programs and services.
National Research Council Canada's Industrial Research Assistance Program provides a wide range of technical and business-oriented advisory services and financial support to qualifying innovative SMEs.
NRC-IRAP is delivered by a field staff of 240 business and technology experts in more than 100 communities across Canada. The program is dedicated to supporting SMEs and helping them harness their full potential by transforming knowledge and innovation into strategic opportunities, jobs and prosperity for all Canadians.
Adopted by the federal government in 2009, Canada's Economic Action Plan provides $200 million in additional funding over two years to expand the NRC-IRAP financial assistance available to innovative Canadian companies. For more on this Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
For further information, consult the backgrounder associated with this news release:
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Sources:
Guylaine Beaudoin
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 418-648-4679
E-mail: guylaine.beaudoin@dec-ced.gc.ca
Media Relations
National Research Council Canada
Tel.: 613-991-1431
media@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Simon Bachand
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 613-996-6236
E-mail: simon.bachand@dec-ced.gc.ca
Gary Toft
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Gary Goodyear
Minister of State (Science and Technology)
Industry Canada
Tel.: 613-943-7599
