Bringing Minds to Market: Harper Government Invests in Auto Innovation
(firmenpresse) - BURNABY, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire) -- 03/20/12 -- The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for Science and Technology, today announced six new projects supported by the Automotive Partnership Canada initiative. The projects advance research and development (R&D) in Canada's automotive industry by supporting new technologies that will provide lighter material alternatives for cars and significantly enhance battery efficiency for vehicles.
"Through the Automotive Partnership Canada initiative, our government enhances the research capacity of universities to achieve made-in-Canada innovation," said the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages. "The investments in automotive R&D will lead to greener, better-performing vehicles, as well as create jobs and strengthen our economy."
These university-industry partnerships will receive almost $34 million in total project support. This includes just under $19 million in funding through the Automotive Partnership Canada initiative and nearly $15 million from industry and other partners. These partnerships will be supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and National Research Council Canada (NRC).
Simon Fraser University received over $5 million to work on a new generation of fuel cells that hold great potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. For this project, 17 scientists and engineers from nine universities across Canada will work on reducing the production costs of this new technology. Dr. Steven Holdcroft is partnering with Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation, Ballard Power Systems Inc., BIC Inc., General Motors of Canada Limited, Hydrogenics and Hyteon Inc.
"Canada's scientists and engineers are well positioned to provide the automotive industry with the expertise needed to maintain a strong and sustainable automotive industry," said NSERC President Suzanne Fortier. "These most recently announced projects will contribute to the evolution of new materials and technologies that will benefit both the automotive sector and consumers."
"Through our investment in state-of-the-art facilities, we are supporting research-driven economic growth and helping to create jobs in Canadian communities," said Gilles G. Patry, President and CEO of the CFI. "Working with federal partners, the Canada Foundation for Innovation is helping one of Canada's key industries thrive in a global marketplace."
"The National Research Council is committed to working with Canada's auto industry to make it internationally competitive," said John McDougall, President of NRC. "This initiative underlines NRC's support for developing a sustainable and viable auto sector in Canada."
Announced by the Government of Canada in April 2009, Automotive Partnership Canada is a five-year, $145-million initiative that supports collaborative R&D and pushes the Canadian automotive industry to greater levels of innovation. As this is an industry-driven initiative, automotive companies provide both financial support and essential in-kind contributions to ensure the research projects' success.
Other previously funded Automotive Partnership Canada research focused on the development of a battery pack thermal management system for hybrid electric vehicles, more efficient systems for lightweight wheel production, enhanced performance catalytic converters, improved fuel cell technology and improved automotive manufacturing workplace design and ergonomics.
NSERC is a federal agency that helps make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators for all Canadians. The agency supports some 30,000 post-secondary students and post-doctoral fellows in their advanced studies. The agency promotes discovery by funding more than 12,000 professors every year and fosters innovation by encouraging more than 2,000 Canadian companies to participate and invest in post-secondary research projects.
A backgrounder is available at the following link:
Contacts:
Stephanie Thomas
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Gary Goodyear
Minister of State (Science and Technology)
613-960-7728
Media Relations
Industry Canada
613-943-2502
Martin Leroux
Media and Public Affairs Officer
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
613-943-7618
Ryan Saxby Hill
Coordinator, Media Relations and Online Engagement
Canada Foundation for Innovation
613-943-5346
Media Relations
National Research Council Canada
1-855-282-1637
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Datum: 20.03.2012 - 10:10 Uhr
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