FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS INVEST IN WESTERN RESEARCH

Released on December 18, 2006

Western Canada's growing information technology sector got a boost today with an important investment in TRLabs, Canada's largest and most successful not-for-profit information and communications technology research and development consortium. Funding for this announcement includes a $10 million federal investment in TRLabs from Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) for Western Canada. Of that $10 million, Saskatchewan will receive $2.4 million, over five years, which the Government of Saskatchewan is matching.

"Canada's New Government is ensuring Saskatchewan communities have the support they need to convert bright ideas into commercial products that respond to global market demands," said the Honourable Carol Skelton, Minister of National Revenue and Minister of Western Economic Diversification. "This investment in TRLabs will help propel Canada to the forefront of international telecommunications technology while generating positive employment opportunities, skills development and economic growth across Western Canada."

Funding announced today will support the core operations in Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, Regina and Winnipeg. University professors, graduate students, industry and staff researchers will work together to conduct applied research in information and communications technology.

"Saskatchewan has a growing information and communications technology sector and is recognised worldwide for excellence and innovation in telecommunications," Saskatchewan Industry and Resources Minister Eric Cline said. "TRLabs has been an important contributor to the research and development that leads to the commercialization of new technologies, and provides yet another example of why this province is innovative by nature."

The federal and provincial funding agreements will help ensure that the 50 members (including 37 industry members) comprising the TRLabs research consortium benefit from the organization's continuing efforts to develop new technology, advance knowledge in information and communications technologies, and train university students for leadership roles in Canadian industry.

"This investment in TRLabs enables us to continue to provide our members with an important service that feeds job creation and future prosperity in this key industry," TRLabs president and CEO Dr. Roger Pederson said. "The new technology and highly skilled university graduates we produce are more important than ever in a sector that enables productivity in all other economic sectors, grows at twice the rate of the broader economy, and is Canada's largest research and development spender and employment generator."

TRLabs partners include major multinational and national corporations from the information technologies and telecommunications field; the Universities of Manitoba, Alberta, Calgary, Regina, Saskatchewan; the Governments of Canada, Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan; and 37 companies, the majority of which are small and medium-sized enterprises.

The investment in TRLabs being announced today at events in Winnipeg, Edmonton and Saskatoon includes $10 million from the federal government, $2.4 million each from the Governments of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and $7.5 million from the Government of Alberta for a total of $22.3 million.

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For More Information, Contact:

Brenda Tarasiuk Western Economic Diversification Saskatoon Phone: 306-975-5943 Email: cameron.zimmer@wd.gc.ca	Bob Ellis Industry and Resources Regina Phone: 306-787-1691 Email: rellis@ir.gov.sk.ca
Todd MacKay Ministers' Regional Office Phone: 306-780-3244	Chris Fields Manager, Corporate Development Edmonton Phone: 403-862-4011