OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Feb. 13, 2012) - The Honourable John Baird, Member of Parliament for Ottawa West - Nepean, on behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), today announced innovative partnerships between Algonquin College and 22 small and medium-sized businesses. These partnerships will bring growth and long-term economic benefits to southern Ontario.

"Research, development and business innovation are all vital to maintaining Canada's global competitive advantage," said Baird. "Through the projects announced today, companies in southern Ontario are helping to boost the region's economy by working with Algonquin College on activities that will help them bring their promising ideas and innovations to market sooner."

Since its launch in 2010, FedDev Ontario's Applied Research and Commercialization initiative has invested more than $14.5 million to support 24 colleges, universities and polytechnics across southern Ontario so they could work with the private sector to bring new products and innovative processes to the marketplace faster. In 2010, Algonquin College was approved for up to $750,000 to partner with small and medium-sized businesses on activities such as applied research, engineering design, technology development, product testing, and certification.

"Thanks to the Applied Research and Commercialization initiative, Algonquin engaged 22 industry partners in commercially oriented projects that covered a wide variety of fields including information and communications, wireless, photonics, energy, and social innovation," said Algonquin President Robert Gillett. "Nearly 70 students had the opportunity to participate in these projects, sharpen their technical skills, discover their own entrepreneurial edge, and interface with industry professionals, all while helping the partner companies move their products closer to commercialization."

For more information on the Applied Research and Commercialization initiative and Algonquin College's partners, please refer to the backgrounder.

Created in 2009, FedDev Ontario supports the southern Ontario economy by building on the region's strengths and creating opportunities for jobs and economic growth. The Agency has launched a number of initiatives to create a Southern Ontario Advantage and place the region in a strong position to compete in the global economy. These initiatives are designed to encourage partnerships and support projects that help the region's businesses and communities become more competitive, innovative and diversified. To learn more, visit www.feddevontario.gc.ca or call 1-866-593-5505.

Backgrounder

Applied Research and Commercialization Initiative

The Applied Research and Commercialization Initiative helps small and medium-sized businesses in southern Ontario access applied research and development and pre-commercialization expertise found in post-secondary institutions.

Since its launch in 2010, $14.5 million has been invested through the initiative to support collaborative projects between the 24 participating colleges, universities and polytechnics across southern Ontario so they could work with businesses to bring new products and innovative processes to the marketplace faster. In December 2011, FedDev Ontario announced the extension of the Applied Research and Commercialization initiative until March 31, 2013 with additional funding to further support innovation efforts in southern Ontario.

In 2010, as part of the original contribution, FedDev Ontario provided Algonquin College with up to $750,000 to work with small and medium-sized businesses on applied research and commercialization projects. Algonquin College has partnered with the following 22 businesses:

Advanced Engine Technology Inc. (Ottawa)

AET is a manufacturing company that specializes in research, development, manufacturing and testing of diesel engines, engine components and instrumentation for transportation and power generation. AET has developed a small-scale generator that can provide 16kW heating and 6kW electrical power for homes and small businesses. The project with Algonquin College will integrate 'Smart Grid' technologies into the system. The ultimate aims are to give end-users greater control and greater cost-savings, help AET satisfy the latest industry trends and enhance their competitiveness in the market. More information is available at www.aet.ca.

B-Con Engineering Inc. (Nepean)

B-Con Engineering creates advanced optical components for hi-tech, aerospace, military, automotive, and biotech industries. The project with Algonquin College will create an optical system that can monitor the reaction of bio-fuel simply by shining light into the reactor, which would represent a significant improvement over traditional testing methods. The project could open new markets for B-Con in the field of bio-fuel generation, thus increasing the company's profile and market reach. More information is available www.bconeng.com.

Champion Mushrooms Inc. (Moose Creek)

Champion Mushroom Inc. is a grower of prized Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus). The mushrooms are carefully cultivated in special bags of sterilized wood shavings. The project with Algonquin College will aim to increase the mushroom production by analyzing the micro-nutrients, macro-nutrients, and pH throughout the growth cycle in order to identify possible restrictions. If successful, the project will help increase production, efficiency, and profits. More information is available at www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0vZwmgV5hw.

Comment Air Technologies Inc. (Ottawa)

Comment Air Technologies Inc. is a family-run business that enhances the sport fan's experience at sporting events by providing live commentary via miniaturized FM radio earpieces. The project with Algonquin College will design and build a functioning prototype of Comment Air's concept. The project will help increase the company's profile, enhance investment and business partnership opportunities, and reduce time-to-market. More information is available at www.commentair.com.

DawnSuite Communications Inc. (Ottawa)

DawnSuite Communications Inc. specializes in web-based services to help event planners create meetings, conferences, conventions and special events. The company has an advanced software system that facilitates the ongoing communications that are needed between planners, attendees, sponsors, and suppliers and is compatible with the industry's Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX) standard. The project will enhance the system's scalability and reduce the need for manual intervention. This will add value to the company's product and increase competitiveness in the marketplace. More information is available at www.DawnSuite.com.

Devera Logic Inc. (Ottawa)

Devera Logic is a spin-out company of the University of Ottawa that is commercializing a patented technology to enable organizations to better govern and administer their sensitive information. With the help of Algonquin College, the technology will allow improvements to the user interface to be designed and implemented, which will enhance the user experience and help accelerate commercialization in domestic and international markets of defense, intelligence, security, healthcare, and financial services. More information is available at www.deveralogic.com.

DRK Software (Ottawa)

DRK creates software to help manage sports leagues. The company's LeagueConvenor system has an auto-scheduler that can perform some of the complex functions needed to schedule league-based games and events. The project with Algonquin College will improve the auto-scheduler's functionality and integrate it into the company's existing data management system. The project is expected to translate into increased competitiveness and higher revenues for the company. More information is available at www.drksoftware.com.

Edey FX Inc. (Nepean)

Edey FX provides industrial design, computer-aided design (CAD), prototyping, and fabrication services to a wide variety of clients. The project with Algonquin College will create a prototype for a special wind-turbine. The device must be able to produce 3kW of electrical power in rural remote areas, must be easy to transport and easy to assemble. A multi-disciplinary team consisting of a mechanical team for the airfoil and tower design, and an electrical team for the generator and associated electrical components, will work to launch this exciting new product for the company. More information is available at www.edeyfx.com.

FERSHT Inc. (Nepean)

FERSHT Inc. specializes in testing and certifying electronic components used in military, aerospace, biosciences, and communications applications that must meet stringent performance certifications, and operate in harsh temperature and humidity conditions. The project with Algonquin College will automate FERSHT's process for special, long-term testing protocols. An automated control and data acquisition system that is able to provide the company's clients with live, real-time test data will be developed. This will provide FERSHT with a competitive advantage and enhance the company's profile. More information is available at www.jfersht.com.

Haycore Canada Inc. (Russell)

Haycore recycles rigid plastics sourced from municipalities across North America. Once transported to the company's facility, plastic articles are washed, filtered, and ground to a 'mixed flake.' The project with Algonquin College will test experimental mechanical methods to separate the mixed flake into Polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) fractions. This process is conventionally performed by expensive, high-volume machinery. The results of this project are expected to enhance Haycore's competitiveness and expand their markets. More information is available at www.haycore.ca.

Home Monitor Inc. (Ottawa)

Home Monitor has created an innovative home alarm system which is 100% user-installed and user-controlled. The system represents a new model in the industry. The project will develop an uncluttered, context-sensitive user-interface that assists the user during alert conditions and enhance the company's demonstration capacity to help market its innovative product.

Impakt Protective Inc. (Kanata)

Impakt manufactures a patented Shockbox™ system that alerts sports players of potential concussion injuries. The project with Algonquin College will design, prototype, and test a customized wireless system for the company's sensor. The system must meet stringent performance requirements including low-cost, small size, and low power. The project is expected to enhance the company's competitive positioning and reduce time-to-market in this rapidly-emerging niche. More information is available at www.impaktprotective.com.

InBay Technologies Inc. (Ottawa)

InBay Technologies Inc. has created a unique, patent-pending security system called 'idQuanta', which allows users to use one login and password for all their secure websites. The project with Algonquin College will perform rigorous testing of the idQuanta Platform to assess usability, scalability, vulnerability, and reliability on various computer platforms. The project will help prepare the system for commercialization and will reduce time-to-market. More information is available at www.inbaytech.com.

Lam and Sons Foods Inc. (Carp)

L&S Foods Inc. is a supplier of premium Asian food sauces. The project with Algonquin College will prototype a food-grade, automated manufacturing apparatus to produce premium rice-paper wraps for salad rolls. The objective is to produce a superior, Canadian-made gluten-free rice paper that is able to compete with imports. A successful project would expand and compliment L&S's existing product offerings and would build upon a previous, multi-disciplinary applied research project which performed testing of several health-conscious rice dough recipes. More information is available at www.super-tom.com.

NiTec Inc. (Ottawa)

NiTec has prototyped a Personal Communication System (PCS) for the physically impaired based on the Android smart-phone platform. The PCS facilitates personal communications via touch-controls, images, and user gestures. The project with Algonquin College will include beta-testing as well as analysis of commercialization channels. This will allow the company to extend the existing prototype to multiple smart-phone and tablet platforms, including Blackberry, Windows Mobile 7, iPhone, and iPad. More information is available at www.niteccorp.com.

NOMADiQ Shelter Solutions Inc. (Ottawa)

NOMADiQ, which was founded by a military medic with first-hand experience in hostile environments, has created a low-cost, easy-to-assemble shelter system for disaster-relief, mining, and far-north exploration. The project with Algonquin College will enhance the commercialization of the company's shelter system by prioritizing market opportunities and by building and testing a steel support frame that can level the structure on uneven ground. The project will improve NOMADiQ's product and increase market reach. More information is available at www.nomadiqshelters.com.

Palomino Systems Innovation Inc. (Toronto)

Palomino is a Toronto-based software and web solutions provider that helps companies take their business processes online and improve their interactions with clients. For the health industry, Palomino has created a unique Care-Flow Management System, which collects data at the patient's bed side. The project with Algonquin College will identify existing wireless medical devices and study their usability in real-world medical scenarios and will help Palomino optimize and validate its product to gain a competitive advantage in the rapidly-evolving e-health industry. More information is available at www.palominosys.com.

T-Base Communications Inc. (Ottawa)

T-Base, a market-leader with over 14 years of experience, produces over 3 million pages per year of alternate-format text for the visually-impaired. The project with Algonquin College will prototype a world-first, automated Braille translator. This system would simplify the translation process, and increase the company's operational efficiency while reducing costs. As a market-leader with 14 years experience in the field, this project has the potential to allow T-Base to maintain its leading position in this market. More information is available at www.tbase.com.

Trevorrow Ltd. (Mallorytown)

Trevorrow Ltd. tends over 2,500 black walnut trees (Juglans Nigra) and hopes to demonstrate that black walnut cultivation can be economically viable for small-scale Ontario farmers. The project with Algonquin College will design and build a low-cost mechanical cracking machine, able to break the nuts and separate the nutmeat. The project will also prototype a system that enables conventional wood pellet stoves to burn the discarded walnut shell as bio-fuel. A successful project will represent an important step in realizing Trevorrow's vision of a commercial black walnut industry in Southern Ontario. More information is available at www.blackwalnuts.ca.

Version 2.0 Inc. (Ottawa)

Version 2.0 Inc. is an innovative technology company that supports educational and entertainment industries. The project with Algonquin College will develop an interactive, multimedia, touch-screen that will serve as a wireless organizer for classrooms, boardrooms, and meeting rooms, and will focus on multimedia, video, and audio layouts for the system. The goal of this partnership is to reduce time-to-market and increase the company's market reach.

Viscore Technologies Inc. (Ottawa)

Viscore Inc. specializes in the design of opto-electronic components for telecommunications, such as couplers and isolators. The company has created a unique system that streamlines the design of new components and that can be applied to a wide range of design requirements. The project with Algonquin College will improve the system's capability in characterization and testing, which will increase the company's competitiveness and allow Viscore to meet the manufacturing industry's increasing demands for speed, reliability and low-cost in product development. More information is available at www.viscore.com.

Y's Owl Maclure Co-operative Centre Inc. (Ottawa)

Y's Owl Maclure Co-operative Centre provides support services to adults with disabilities, including fee-for-service programs that enhance the employability of individuals with Asperger's Syndrome (AS). The project with Algonquin College will investigate, test, and implement improvements to Y's Owl Maclure's existing services, including the development of targeted training materials for both individuals with AS, as well as their potential employers in the community. More information is available at www.ysowlmaclure.ca.