ARCHIVED - Economic Action Plan supports research and development at Ottawa manufacturer

Ottawa-based GasTOPS Ltd. recognized as a Canadian Innovation Leader

September 22, 2010 — Ottawa, Ontario

Defence, marine, energy and transportation industries, which rely on the safety and productivity of critical machinery, may soon benefit from new products, thanks to an investment by the Government of Canada to GasTOPS Ltd., an Ottawa business. The announcement was made by Royal Galipeau, Member of Parliament for Ottawa-Orléans, on behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology).

"Our government is investing in science and technology to create good jobs, strengthen the economy and improve Canadians' quality of life," said Mr. Galipeau. "This investment will help bring solutions for machinery demanding the highest standards of safety, reliability, availability, and cost-effective operation."

GasTOPS Ltd. will receive $950,000 from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program to develop machinery fluids sensors. The project aims to develop optical measurement techniques by studying machinery fluids, such as fuels and lubricants, which will lead to improved operations of industrial machines. This will also help the company maintain its leadership position in the field of machinery health monitoring, increase sales, and create new jobs for Canadians.

A Canadian Innovation Leader Certificate was also presented to GasTOPS Ltd. to highlight its success as an innovative Canadian firm that has successfully linked scientific research to commercialization, jobs and economic growth.

Canada's Economic Action Plan provided new resources of $200 million to the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program over two years to support innovative firms in Canada. To learn more, visit Canada's Economic Action Plan website.

"The support from NRC-IRAP has been a vital component of our company's innovation success," said Dave Muir, President and Chief Executive Officer for GasTOPS Ltd. "Providing both financial and scientific support for the early and high risk stages of product research and development, this support has contributed greatly to our achievements."

Founded in 1979 and now employing more than 100 people in Ontario, Nova Scotia, and in the United States, GasTOPS Ltd. provides products and services to improve the productivity and safety of equipment used by the defence, aviation, marine, energy, and transportation industries worldwide. For more than 30 years, the company has supplied innovative fluid sensing and analysis systems and specialized technical services for the development and support of machinery condition monitoring, control and maintenance systems.

Backgrounder

National Research Council Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program

National Research Council Canada's (NRC) 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 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 the 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 incremental investment of $200 million over two years through Canada's Economic Action Plan. 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 1000 new post-secondary graduates via its Youth Employment Program.

The commitment in Canada's Economic Action Plan reinforces NRC-IRAP's mandate to help SMEs develop technologies and successfully commercialize them in a global marketplace. It 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 1400 additional SMEs beyond its existing base over two years.

Canadian Innovation Leader (CIL) Certificate

A Canadian Innovation Leader is an SME that demonstrated a specific advance in research and development within its industrial sector. This advance has contributed to the wealth of the country, from a corporate growth perspective, through job creation or through a particular investment in research and development that has improved the lives of Canadians. NRC created the Canadian Innovation Leader Certificate Program to recognize Canadian firms that have successfully developed and applied innovative technologies, linking scientific research to commercialization, jobs and economic growth.

About GasTOPS Ltd.

Founded in 1979, GasTOPS Ltd. provides products and services to improve the productivity and safety of equipment used by the defence, aviation, marine, energy, and transportation industries worldwide. For more than 30 years, the company has supplied innovative fluid sensing and analysis systems and specialized engineering and technical services for the development and support of machinery condition monitoring, control and maintenance systems. GasTOPS Ltd. is receiving a contribution of $950,000. This contribution from NRC-IRAP will support the company in the development of optical measurement techniques for the assessment of machinery fluids, such as fuels and lubricants, leading to the creation of new condition monitoring products. This will help the company maintain its leadership position in the field of machinery health monitoring, increase sales and create a new line of products as well as new jobs for Canadians. The project, which is already underway, will cost a total of $1,571,190 and will continue until July 31st, 2013. GasTOPS Ltd. will also be awarded a Canadian Innovation Leader Certificate.

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