February 10, 2011 – Calgary, Alberta
The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), has announced a contribution of $30,000 to OnTrack Engineering Ltd. from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP).
The funding supports innovative research and development projects that will assist OnTrack Engineering Ltd. in developing software solutions for the engineering and construction industry.
"As part of our government's Economic Action Plan, we are investing in science and technology to create jobs, strengthen the economy and improve Canadians' quality of life," said Minister Goodyear. "This investment will help engineering and construction companies keep their projects on time and on budget, which will benefit all Canadians."
The contribution to OnTrack Engineering Ltd. will support the company in a three year project to rewrite its proprietary software, called OnTrack Project Manager, to reflect the latest industry software standards and the knowledge and experience gained from 14 years of market presence.
"Due to the high cost of research and development, the NRC-IRAP support is essential to the success of our three year project" said Mike Milinusic, President of OnTrack Engineering. "This continuous collaboration extends beyond financial support. We have built a partnership which helps our project move forward much faster."
Founded in 1984, OnTrack Engineering Ltd. has been providing project control tools to the engineering and construction industry for over 25 years and now employs 10 people in Calgary. Its proprietary software integrates and automates, in real time via the Internet, all the functions of cost control, procurement, contract management, material management, planning, financial transactions, and document control. It has been used internationally for the last 14 years on thousands of projects ranging from a few million to over a billion dollars. The company expects an increase in sales and export growth once the updated software is launched to the market in Fall 2011.
The Industrial Research Assistance Program provides a range of both technical and business-oriented advisory services along with necessary financial support to qualified innovative small and medium-sized enterprises in Canada.
The program is delivered by a field staff of 240 professionals in more than 100 communities across Canada. The National Research Council of Canada 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.
Canada's Economic Action Plan provided new resources of $200 million to the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program over two years to support innovative firms in Canada. Learn more at Canada's Economic Action Plan website.
