News Releases - Government of Canada supports innovative research and development in Toronto

July 21, 2009 — Ottawa, Ontario

The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), is in Toronto today to announce a contribution to ViXS Systems Inc. from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP).

The funding supports an innovative research and development project that will support ViXS Systems in developing high-tech multimedia solutions for global markets.

"Our government is committed to building a competitive advantage for the Canadian private sector and supports these leading-edge technology solutions," said Minister Goodyear. "The Government of Canada is investing in science and technology to create jobs, strengthen the economy and improve Canadians’ quality of life."

Minister of State (Science and Technology) Gary Goodyear was in Toronto recently to announce a contribution to ViXS Systems Inc. from the National Research Council Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP). Above, from left, are: Pat Mortimer, Vice-President, Technology and Industry Support, National Research Council; Minister Goodyear; Sally Daub, President and Chief Executive Officer of ViXS Systems; and Tony Rahilly, Director General, NRC-IRAP.

ViXS Systems is a multimedia solutions innovator, providing technologies for processing, managing, securing and distributing high-quality video and audio, allowing seamless multimedia control, conversion and connectivity between any class and size of digital-entertainment device.

This $750,000 contribution will support the Toronto-based company in developing innovative video-networking processors for Blu-ray multimedia players and recorders, which will make it easier to decode, transcode and encode multiple formats of digital high-definition and standard-definition video content for reprocessing, distribution and playback.

"Investing in science and technology is critical for developing highly skilled people and improving the long-term competitiveness of Canadian firms," said NRC President Dr. Pierre Coulombe. "That's why NRC-IRAP is helping innovative Canadian businesses such as ViXS Systems grow stronger, faster and bigger."

ViXS Systems supplies advanced semiconductors, software solutions and hardware reference designs for the world’s top manufacturers of digital TVs, DVDs, set-top boxes, Personal Video Recorders, PCs, network-attached storage devices, residential/home gateways and Blu-ray players and recorders.

"NRC-IRAP is playing an important role in the success of the company," said Sally Daub, President and Chief Executive Officer of ViXS Systems. "The financial support we are receiving from NRC-IRAP will help us continue to innovate high-tech multimedia solutions for the global marketplace."

About NRC and NRC-IRAP

The NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) provides a range of both technical and business-oriented advisory services along with necessary financial support to qualified innovative Canadian small- and medium-sized enterprises.

The program is delivered by a field staff of 240 professionals in more than 100 communities across Canada. NRC-IRAP is committed to working with small- and medium-sized enterprises while they realize their full potential, turning knowledge and innovation into strategic opportunities, jobs and prosperity for all Canadians.

The Government of Canada's Economic Action Plan has provided new resources of $200 million over the next two years to bolster NRC-IRAP support for innovative Canadian firms.

Backgrounder

National Research Council Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP)

NRC’s main outreach to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is through its Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) which provides support to innovative companies in Canada undertaking research and technology development projects for commercial purposes.

NRC-IRAP provides a range of both technical and business-oriented advisory services along with necessary financial support to qualified innovative Canadian SMEs. The program is delivered by a field staff of 240 business and technology experts in more than 100 communities across Canada. Working directly with SMEs, NRC-IRAP supports innovative research and development (R&D) and helps companies become commercialization-ready with their new products and services.

While the program operates three separate contribution programs — contribution to firms, contribution to organizations and a Youth Employment Program — NRC-IRAP’s main contribution component is in the form of a non-repayable contribution that reimburses the labour costs of a research and development project directly to firms.

Science at work for Canada

NRC-IRAP received an investment in Budget 2009, Canada’s Economic Action Plan, of $200 million over the next two years. This is new money. NRC-IRAP is committed to using this new funding to help the Government build a competitive advantage for Canada based on excellence in science and technology (S&T).

The funding includes $170 million to double NRC-IRAP’s contributions to firms and $30 million to help hire more than 1,000 new post-secondary graduates via its Youth Employment Program.

The budget commitment reinforces NRC-IRAP’s mandate to help SMEs take knowledge from the lab to the marketplace. The budget commitment also broadens NRC-IRAP’s ability to provide S&T expertise to SMEs. NRC-IRAP estimates that this new money will allow it to support approximately 1,400 additional SMEs over the next two years.

ViXS Systems

ViXS Systems is a leading fabless semiconductor company headquartered in Toronto with global operations and offices in Europe, Asia and North America. ViXS has filed more than 250 patents worldwide with over 60 patents being issued to date. Listed as one of the Deloitte’s fastest growing North American companies, ViXS is innovating digital entertainment solutions through an array of multimedia products.

It is a multimedia solutions innovator, providing technologies for processing, managing, securing and distributing high-quality video and audio, allowing seamless multimedia control, conversion and connectivity between any class and size of digital-entertainment device.

This $750,000 contribution will allow the Toronto-based company to continue developing innovative video-networking processors for Blu-ray multimedia players and recorders, which will make it easier to decode, transcode and encode multiple formats of digital high-definition and standard definition and video content for reprocessing, distribution and playback.