Harper Government Stands Behind Western Canadian Business with WINN

News Release

Western Innovation (WINN) Initiative Helps Get Innovative Ideas from the Test Bench to Market

June 27, 2014 – Calgary, Alberta – Western Economic Diversification Canada

Corresponding Document: Photo Gallery

Minister Rempel today announced support for 27 projects in western Canada under the Western Innovation (WINN) Initiative, a vital component in the Harper Government’s commitment to creating jobs, promoting economic growth, and maintaining Canada’s competitive advantage in the global marketplace. To this end, Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) continues to serve western Canadian business and entrepreneurs as a co-investor, convener and champion for the West, supporting the advancement of a healthy economy.

Over its 5-year span WINN will provide up to $100 million in repayable assistance to western small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Under WINN, SMEs can apply for funding for a variety of tasks that are essential in taking a product from the research and development stage to the market, such as: product testing and technology demonstrations, equipment purchases and installation, regulatory approval, marketing, and intellectual property protection.

Quick Facts

By funding over $21 million to help companies bring their cutting edge products, processes, technologies and services to market, the Government of Canada through WD is making good on its commitment to help innovators in western Canada prosper, generating jobs and economic growth in the region.
Support is being provided through the initial competitive round of WINN and will be distributed as follows:
- 12 projects totaling $8.45 million in British Columbia.
- 11 projects totaling $6.81 million in Alberta.
- 1 project totaling $3.50 million in Saskatchewan.
- 3 projects totaling $2.58 million in Manitoba.
Through WINN these projects have leveraged additional private sector support of nearly $24 million, more than doubling total project contributions.
The next WINN intake period is planned for Fall 2014.

Quotes

"I am proud to support programs such as the Western Innovation (WINN) Initiative, which will assist small- and medium-sized enterprises in Western Canada in bringing their ideas into the global marketplace. Through WINN we are filling a funding gap identified by Canadian business, and re-affirming our government's commitment to providing opportunities for jobs and growth."
The Honourable Michelle Rempel, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification

Provinces

Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
Saskatchewan

Alberta

Proponent	Description	WINN Funding Amount
Aquila Diagnostic Systems Inc.	This project will support the commercialization of a portable diagnostic platform designed to detect blood borne pathogens.	$190,000
BlackBridge Geomatics Corp.	This project will bring to market image-based agriculture field monitoring technology for the monitoring of agricultural lands.	$250,000
Calgary Scientific Inc.	This project will expand on Calgary Scientific’s ResolutionMD software, adding new elements to improve the current system. These system upgrades will process medical images, notify the appropriate physician(s) as soon as the images are available, and have them accessible for review on a mobile device or web browser immediately.	$1,204,785
M3 Logistics Inc.	This project will commercialize a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tracking system for chemical products. This technology will support the chemical and additives industry through improved inventory and supply chain management and traceability.	$227,000
Micralyne Inc.	This investment will support in the commercialization of a next generation accelerometer, used for seismic applications in the oil and gas industry.	$1,191,779
NanoSpeed Diagnostics Inc.	This project will support the commercialization of Test4D across international markets. This point-of-care-test measures the levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in a drop of blood in 10 minutes, while accurately diagnosing deficiencies.	$243,640
Orpyx Medical Technologies Inc.	This project will develop and commercialize a wearable pressure-monitoring product that will enable predictive analytics to help athletes reduce injury and improve performance.	$480,000
Quantum Technical Services Ltd.	This investment will support in the commercialization of new fireproofing technology for steel commonly used in the oil and gas industry.	$514,500
RAM Manufacturing Ltd. & MAK Enterprise Inc.	This project will support the commercialization of a hybrid residential elevator, opening up new market segments for manufacturing in western Canada.	$227,750
Serious Labs Inc.	This investment will support in the development of learning products to heavy industry workers across North America. This project will develop a cutting-edge collaborative learning management system and delivery platform that will enable employers and employees alike to store, track and access, as well as share their training electronically.	$1,080,564
Virtual Materials Group Inc.	With this support, Virtual Materials Group Inc. will expand its capability to provide upstream modeling applications that will allow asset owners in the oil and gas industry to optimize production of their assets under a single platform.	$1,200,000

British Columbia

Proponent	Description	WINN Funding Amount
Appnovation Technologies Inc.	Through this investment, Appnovation Technologies Inc. will commercialize its software allowing organizations to implement unified enterprise systems with new and existing software platforms.	$1,173,750
Energy Aware Technology Inc.	Project funding will be used to commercialize Neurio Home Intelligence. Neurio uses artificial intelligence to monitor and act as the brain of the home to help customers better manage their appliances and look after their loved ones.	$250,000
iDUS Controls Ltd.	This investment will help identify and develop additional opportunities to commercialize remote sensing and data aggregation technology for soil moisture and environmental growing factors. This will support efficient agriculture by giving farmers access to real-time data related to irrigation and other growing factors.	$90,000
International WaterGuard Industries Inc.	This project will help develop, certify and commercialize aircraft water management products including on-demand water heaters and water treatment systems for business jet lavatories and showers.	$315,500
Mazza Innovation Ltd.	This project will improve the production of high value extracts from plants by commercializing new extraction processes that eliminate the use of hazardous solvents.	$125,000
Metafor Software	This investment will support the development of anomaly-detection technology that will automatically identify and repair problems with Internet data centre operations.	$472,236
Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies Inc.	This project will undertake field trials to validate the performance of an innovative slow-release, fertilizer made using an eco-friendly proprietary process. The fertilizer will provide growers with sustainable nutrient solutions by reducing fertilizer application rates while maintaining and/or improving crop yields.	$888,676
Redlen Technologies Inc.	This investment will assist in the commercial production of Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) radiation detection technology within the medical and security imaging markets. Applications for the radiation detectors include medical imaging such as CT scanners and X-Ray imaging, as well as baggage scanning devices for military or security applications.	$1,643,710
Solegear Bioplastics Inc.	This investment will support the development and commercialization of a new bio-based and compostable plastic for the rigid consumer packaging market.	$1,600,000
SWITCH Materials Inc.	This investment will support in the commercialization of a photo-electrochromic film for volume manufacturing in the eyewear market. Applications for this technology include eyewear, and both automotive and architectural glass.	$1,600,000
ThinkCX Technologies Inc.	This investment will assist in the further development and commercialization of a new software product that adds social intelligence solutions to the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems of customer care companies.	$100,000
Tutela Technologies Ltd.	This investment will assist in the development and commercialization of a wireless network assessment tool that will monitor network quality directly on consumer cell phones. This tool will allow service providers to receive rapid feedback from customers in order to quickly address network issues and support requests.	$200,000

Manitoba

Proponent	Description	WINN Funding Amount
C.P. Loewen Enterprises Ltd.	This investment will help provide C.P. Loewen Enterprises Ltd. with product development support for the high end window and door market.	$1,330,748
Complex Games Inc.	Through this investment, Complex Games Inc. will build, test, and launch an innovative multi-player mobile game, which will be available on App stores.	$500,000
Seccuris Inc.	This investment will support the commercialization of a cloud-based security platform that delivers a suite of security management services for threat, vulnerability and risk management.	$750,000

Saskatchewan

Proponent	Description	WINN Funding Amount
Ground Effects Environmental Services Inc.	Through this project, Ground Effects Environmental Services Inc. will commercialize Electro Separation Cell technology, which will be used to recover valuable base-oils from spent drilling mud and reduce the volume of spent drilling mud waste.	$3,500,000

Additional Links

WINN

Contacts

Emily Goucher
Office of the Minister
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Telephone: 613-668-2903
Email: Emily.Goucher@wd-deo.gc.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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Harper Government Stands Behind Western Canadian Business with WINN

News Release

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