Inauguration of Unmanned Aerial System Center of Excellence Attended by Minister Lebel

ALMA, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Feb. 27, 2014) - Canada Economic Development

The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, took part in today's ceremony marking the official inauguration of the new Unmanned Aerial System Center of Excellence (UAS CE).

Minister Lebel took the opportunity at the event to highlight the $2.5 million in non-repayable federal funding announced for the project in May 2013 and granted through Canada Economic Development's Quebec Economic Development Program.

Quick facts

• Alma Airport, where the new facilities are located, is striving to establish itself as a dynamic and innovative hub in the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industry by offering a range of services related to the sector.
  
  
• Consolidating all of the operations of the UAS CE under one roof will help foster interaction and synergy among the organizations and businesses working to develop drone products and services.
  
  
• The activities carried out at the Center could result in the development of applications for use in such sectors as communications, mining, gas and oil exploration, forest protection, civil defence, etc.
  
  

Quotes

"Our Government recognizes the determining role that innovation plays in economic growth. That is why we were unhesitating in our decision to fund this new infrastructure for the Unmanned Aerial System Center of Excellence."

Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec

"Our new facility will move us closer to our goal of becoming the Canadian reference and a world leader in the field of civil and commercial UAV applications, not to mention the potential part it will play in generating positive economic spinoffs for the region."

Pascal Pilote, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Unmanned Aerial System Center of Excellence

Related link

Unmanned Aerial System Center of Excellence Web site: http://www.cedalma.com/en/

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