Puratone in Niverville, left to right: Dr. Peter Provis, Lyle Loewen, Vic Toews - MP, Ray Hildebrand and Larry Johnson.
Vic Toews, Member of Parliament for Provencher, today toured three businesses that recently received investments from the National Research Council Canada’s Industrial Research Assistance Program.
Two of the businesses, Puratone Corporation and Southern Comfort Mechanical Inc. are located in Niverville, with the other, Innovaat.com International Inc, located near St. Adolphe.
“Our government is investing in science and technology to create good jobs, strengthen the economy and improve Canadians’ quality of life,” said M.P. Toews. “We are helping Canadian firms successfully develop innovative technologies and bring those new ideas into the marketplace.”
The Next Phase of the Economic Action Plan provided new resources of $80 million over three years to the Industrial Research Assistance Program to support collaborative projects between colleges and small- and medium-sized businesses to accelerate their adoption of information and communications technologies.
The Industrial Research Assistance Program provides a range of both technical and business-oriented advisory services along with necessary financial support to qualified innovative small and medium-sized enterprises in Canada.
The program is delivered by a field staff of professionals in more than 100 communities across Canada. The National Research Council Canada 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.
Below is a brief description of the three projects.
Puratone Corporation. Niverville, MB. ($50,000)
Development of Research Capacity for Assessment of Dietary, Environmental and Financial Examination at the Nursery Stage
• Development of a commercial scale nursery research barn.
• Undertaking of research trials to the benefit of Puratone and each collaborator
• The dissemination of the results of these trials to the general public through Manitoba Agri-Food and Rural Initiatives publications and workshops.
Southern Comfort Mechanical Inc. Niverville, Mb. ($50,000)
Project Title: Integrating Mechanical Design & Information Technology
Objectives: Increase internal technical capacity
• Increase efficiency
• Increase productivity
• Increase accountability
• Increase customer satisfaction
Innovaat.com International Inc. St. Adolphe, MB. ($50,000)
Objectives:
Improve the design and operating efficiencies of the technology components of a biomass heating system. These R&D areas include:
• The gasification/pyrolysis chamber, the bale shredder, fuel injection auger, auto ash removal system, silica collector, blower, motor and cyclone.
• The PLC system also requires redesign and upgrading to industry standards and customer expectations.
