Ministers Goodyear and Holder, MP Truppe and CME Host Manufacturing Roundtable in London

LONDON, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - March 6, 2015) - Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)

Editors Note: There is a photo associated with this press release

Manufacturing representatives joined FedDev Ontario Minister of State Gary Goodyear; Minister of State for Science and Technology and London West MP Ed Holder, London North Centre MP Susan Truppe, and Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) Vice President of National Policy Mathew Wilson today to discuss how to support manufacturers in the London area to embrace advanced technologies.

These technologies are opening up new avenues of growth for businesses and creating opportunities to raise productivity, increase competitiveness and succeed in global markets. Advanced technologies not only have the potential to help spur new sectors and create high-value jobs, but they also transform key sectors of the Canadian economy.

Prior to the advanced manufacturing roundtable, Minister Goodyear, the MPs and Mr. Wilson toured Trudell Medical International. The company manufactures aerosol drug delivery products that enhance the quality of life for people with respiratory diseases, such as asthma. Its London corporate headquarters houses its research, product development and manufacturing functions and state-of-the-art research laboratory.

Earlier in the day, Minister Goodyear and local MPs announced more than $8 million for Fanshawe College to establish the Canadian Centre for Product Validation, which will allow companies to test and validate their products in one centralized space. This facility will help grow Canadian businesses and industries.

They also visited Sciencetech Inc., an export-oriented manufacturer of innovative light-related instrumentation. The company has previously received more than $10,000 for skills training from the Yves Landry Foundation's AIME Global initiative, which was supported by FedDev Ontario. With FedDev Ontario support, the company also hired a Western University graduate student as an intern.

In November 2014, FedDev Ontario announced renewed investments totalling almost $30 million in CME and the Yves Landry Foundation (YLF) for two funding programs that opened to manufacturers in December.

The Government of Canada invests in manufacturing innovation through initiatives such as the Advanced Manufacturing Fund, Technology Demonstration Program, the Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative, and the Automotive Innovation Fund.

Quick Facts

• More than 32,000 manufacturing establishments in southern Ontario contribute significantly to local economies.
• The manufacturing sector is a major contributor to Canada's economy, employing more than 1.7 million Canadians, of which nearly 750,000 live in Ontario. It also accounts for half of the business R&D in Canada and generated sales of $621.7 billion in 2014, including $286.6 billion in sales for Ontario alone.
• Since 2009, FedDev Ontario has committed almost $350 million to an expected 2,100 direct and indirect manufacturing projects.
• This includes a previous partnership with CME that helped more than 700 businesses to become more productive and better equipped to compete in world markets and a partnership with YLF that supported skills training for more than 9,500 workers with 451 manufacturing companies in southern Ontario.
• With the $20-million investment from FedDev Ontario announced in November 2014, CME is delivering SMART Advanced Technologies for Global Growth, which provides funding for manufacturers to conduct technology assessments and adopt advanced technologies, such as robotics, 3D printing and automated materials handling.
• With the $9-million investment from FedDev Ontario announced in November 2014, YLF is continuing to deliver its Achieving Innovation and Manufacturing Excellence (AIME) Global initiative, which helps export-oriented manufacturers provide employee training to support the adaptation of new technology, new processes or procedures that increase productivity and competitiveness.

Quotes

"I'm pleased to be in London today to discuss the future of manufacturing, given its importance in this area. Our Government is committed to investing in manufacturers to help them become more innovative, productive and competitive, which keeps and creates jobs here in the region."

- The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

"Adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies is vital to ensuring that London-area manufacturers develop and maintain their competitive edge in today's global marketplace. By innovating their products and processes, London's manufacturers are ensuring the sector continues to drive Canada's economy

- Mathew Wilson, Vice President National Policy, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME)

Associated Links

Trudell Medical International

Advanced Manufacturing Fund

Investing in Business Growth and Productivity

CME SMART Advanced Technologies for Global Growth

Achieving Innovation and Manufacturing Excellence (AIME) Global initiative

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