Government of Canada Supports Innovation in Durham Region

WHITBY, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Oct. 3, 2011) - Thanks to new partnerships with Durham College, sixteen businesses in southern Ontario will have an opportunity to bring innovative products to market and increase their productivity and competitiveness. Today, the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament for Whitby-Oshawa, on behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, announced the agreements between the college and local small- and medium-sized businesses.

"These agreements allow Durham College and local businesses to work together on exciting new research, and get their results to the marketplace faster," said Minister Flaherty. "Through the Applied Research and Commercialization initiative, our government is investing in innovation to create jobs and economic growth."

"Durham College is committed to continuing to form positive research collaborations with local small- and medium-sized (SME) businesses that are designed to develop and test new products and services and launch them into the marketplace," said Don Lovisa, President, Durham College. "On behalf of our Board of Governors and our entire research team, I extend my sincere thanks to the federal government. This funding is enabling our faculty and student researchers to contribute their skills and expertise toward the development of innovative and creative solutions that will help local businesses grow and prosper, along with supporting the economic development of Durham Region and well beyond."

Last year, under the Applied Research and Commercialization Initiative, Durham College was approved for up to $750,000 from FedDev Ontario to partner with small- and medium-sized businesses on activities such as applied research, engineering design, technology development, product testing, and certification. The support provided will create new economic opportunities, help businesses in southern Ontario grow, and enable them to become even more innovative and competitive.

For more information on the Applied Research and Commercialization Initiative and Durham College's partners, please refer to the backgrounder.

FedDev Ontario was created as part of Canada's Economic Action Plan to support businesses and communities in southern Ontario. Now in its third year of operation, the Agency has launched a number of initiatives to create a Southern Ontario Advantage and place the region in a strong position to compete in the global economy. These initiatives are designed to support businesses and other organizations through partnerships and investments in skills and training; innovation; research and development; and increased productivity. To learn more, please visit www.feddevontario.gc.ca or call 1-866-593-5505.

Backgrounder

Applied Research and Commercialization Initiative

The Applied Research and Commercialization Initiative addresses the unique research and innovation challenges faced by small and medium sized enterprises by helping post-secondary institutions to provide their applied R&D and pre-commercialization expertise to businesses that do not have the internal capacity to undertake those activities.

FedDev Ontario is providing Durham College with up to $750,000 to partner with the following sixteen small- and medium-sized enterprises on the following projects.

ALX Technical Services Ltd. (Richmond Hill)

One of the first manufacturers of static control products in North America, ALX Technical Services Ltd. specializes in electrostatic-sensitive devices (ESD) and ESD clean room paper products. The company is collaborating with Durham College's School of Science and Engineering Technology to enhance a machine prototype designed to serve as a time-saving and efficient piece of equipment to produce a new form of environmentally-responsible packaging.

Aqus Inc. (Whitby)

Aqus Inc., based in Whitby, Ontario is working with the college's School of Skilled Trades, Apprenticeship and Renewable Technology on a research project designed to determine the effectiveness of a grey-water treatment system. The test system will be installed at the college's Whitby campus in the Industrial Maintenance Mechanic shop.

Belden Canada Inc. (Cobourg)

Belden Canada Inc., a company that designs, manufactures and sells a comprehensive portfolio of cable, connectivity and networking products for the transmission of signals for data, sound and video applications. Belden Canada Inc. is working with Durham College's School of Business, IT and Management on a project that will study materials management; the improvement of material usage practices; and the standardization of operating procedures at major process centres on plant floors. The project team will then determine how to improve and implement new processes.

BITS Inc. (Markham)

Markham-based BITS Inc. is collaborating with the School of Media, Art and Design on a research project that will develop a premier career website for students studying at the post-secondary level and other academic institutions. The eStudentLance.com website will help students search for new job opportunities that previously have not been available, earn extra income and gain real-work life experience while still attending school.

BlueGreen Solutions Inc. (Whitby)

BlueGreen Solutions Inc. provides solutions to treat processed water from heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC-R) equipment. The company is working with the School of Skilled Trades, Apprenticeship and Renewable Technology to demonstrate and assess the effectiveness of a new design's ability to reduce chemical consumption; increase reliability; and lower operating costs for commercial and industrial systems.

Dapasoft Inc. (Toronto)

Dapasoft Inc., a Toronto-based software development and information technology consulting firm that delivers high-quality, customized solutions to clients in the steel manufacturing, healthcare and public service areas, is collaborating with Durham College's School of Science and Engineering Technology on a bio-medical devices knowledge portal project. The intent of the portal is to provide a clear and efficient repository for biomedical devices in hospitals, medical clinics and other health-care facilities. It is designed to maintain the accuracy and reliability of a clinical maintenance management system while providing exceptional financial savings.

Delice d'Afrique Foods Inc. (Pickering)

Durham College's School of Science and Engineering Technology is working with Pickering, Ont.-based Delice d'Afrique Foods Inc. on the product development and testing of a fruit beverage product. The goal of the project is to develop a premium, cold beverage using a fruit from Africa that possesses a number of compelling nutritional benefits but is not yet well known in Canada.

Elator Inc. (Pickering)

Pickering, Ontario based Elator Inc. is collaborating with Durham College's School of Science and Engineering Technology on a project focused on the dimensional analysis and cataloging of escalator replacement parts. The project team will study the critical dimensions of the parts to aid in their cataloging and sourcing and the level of technical support available to customers.

Engenergy Inc. (Courtice)

Courtice, Ontario based Engenergy Inc. is working with the School of Skilled Trades, Apprenticeship and Renewable Technology on a solar wall project to assess energy efficiency and examine cost-effectiveness.

HRCarbon (Toronto)

HRCarbon is focused on human resources (people) and carbon (GHG emissions associated with these people) with a mission to drive sustainability via behaviour change within an organization. The company is working with the School of Business, IT and Management on a transportation carbon emissions/Google GIS mash project in order to develop an open-system, web-service infrastructure – supporting browsers and apps, that organizations can use to assess, manage and help report their transportation-related carbon emissions, thereby reducing their carbon footprints.

Infonaut Inc. (Toronto)

Infonaut Inc., a Toronto, Ontario based company offering a map-based GIS tool that supports fast, information-rich decisions, is working with the School of Science and Engineering Technology on a research project that will create the ability for clinical and biomedical personnel to track and pinpoint the specific location of mobile assets in hospitals. Within hospitals it is designed to improve the availability of biomedical equipment to front-line staff and validate adherence to cleaning and infection control policies. System benefits include supply chain efficiencies and improved patient safety through access to specific device locations and movement histories. This project will provide infection-control professionals with a new tool to combat super-bugs by understanding the historical movement of biomedical assets through contaminated areas.

Mediprep Inc. (Oshawa)

Focused on manufacturing prep pads, Mediprep Inc. is working with the School of Science and Engineering Technology to test the operation and effectiveness of a new machine designed to increase manufacturing productivity.

Ontario Drive and Gear Limited (New Hamburg)

Ontario Drive and Gear Limited, which manufactures the Argo and Centaur 6x6 or 8x8 amphibious, all- terrain vehicles (ATV), is working with the School of Skilled Trades, Apprenticeship and Renewable Technology to develop, implement and test the conversion of a conventional, fossil-fuel-powered Argo ATV into a vehicle that will run only on electricity. The potential to increase control, maneuverability and operating efficiency are some of the goals that are driving this effort.

REGEN Energy Inc. (Toronto.)

REGEN Energy Inc. is working with the School of Science and Engineering Technology to test and enhance the design of electricity-demand management equipment.

Sportacular Events Inc. (Toronto)

Toronto based Sportacular Events Inc. is working with Durham College's schools of Media, Art and Design and Science and Engineering Technology on a communications portal project that is designed to leverage the latest wireless technologies. The project will expand and enhance the communications systems of the business with new functionality designed to improve the end-user experience for employees and customers.

Therminator Temperature Services Inc. (Whitby)

Therminator Temperature Services Inc., a trucking company based in Whitby, Ontario, is collaborating with the School of Skilled Trades, Apprenticeship and Renewable Technology on a proof-of-concept project to reduce the fuel consumption of refrigerated transport trailers.