LÉVIS, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Jan. 14, 2011) - Acting on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, and of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), Jacques Gourde, Member of Parliament for Lotbinière–Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, today announced the awarding of $80,000 in repayable funding from Canada Economic Development and $57,500 in non-repayable funding from National Research Council Canada's Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) to the firm TechMed 3D Inc.

"The Government of Canada is proud to lend its support to this Chaudière-Appalaches startup. TechMed 3D's activities will help promote the region's home-grown know-how beyond our borders," stated Mr. Gourde.

Operating in the life sciences, health and nutrition sector, an area of the economy considered a key priority for the greater Québec region, TechMed 3D develops and markets digital measurement systems for the human head and feet. These high-performance scanners, used primarily in the field of orthopaedics, produce accurate data for use in the manufacture of customized shoes, boots and helmets. The company's systems are distinguished by their user-friendliness, versatility and portability, as well as by the speed of their data acquisition and reliability of their results. This financial assistance from the Government of Canada will be used to help TechMed 3D market its products in the United States and Europe.

"The Government of Canada supports enterprises that are developing and using innovative technologies that bridge the distance between scientific research and commercialization, job creation and economic growth," commented Minister Goodyear. 

About Canada Economic Development

Canada Economic Development's mission is to promote the long-term economic development of the regions of Quebec by giving special attention to those where slow economic growth is prevalent or where opportunities for productive employment are inadequate. In carrying out this mission, the Agency promotes cooperation and complementarity with Quebec and its communities.

Through its 14 business offices, Canada Economic Development acts in support of a clientele composed primarily of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and non-profit organizations, providing repayable and non-repayable financial assistance through its various programs and services. 

About NRC-IRAP

National Research Council Canada's Industrial Research Assistance Program provides a wide range of technical and business-oriented advisory services and financial support to qualifying innovative small and medium-sized enterprises.

The NRC-IRAP is delivered by a field staff of 240 business and technology experts in more than 100 communities across Canada. The program is dedicated to supporting SMEs and helping them harness their full potential by transforming knowledge and innovation into strategic opportunities, jobs and prosperity for all Canadians.

The NRC-IRAP delivers its Youth Employment Program under the Career Focus stream of the Youth Employment Strategy. It provides SMEs with financial assistance to hire highly-skilled post-secondary graduates, thus enabling the enterprises to benefit from the knowledge of freshly-minted minds and the graduates to gain valuable work experience that will open doors to the future.

Canada Economic Development is online at www.dec-ced.gc.ca. Subscribe to the Agency's press releases at
http://www.dec-ced.gc.ca/eng/media-room/mailing-list/list.html to keep up with the latest news.

To find out more about the NRC-IRAP, visit our Web site at http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/irap.html. Subscribe to our press releases at http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/subscribe/subscribe.html for all of the latest news.