OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Nov. 1, 2012) - The Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Industry, today announced a repayable government contribution by the Harper Government to GasTOPS Ltd., an Ottawa-based company developing a method to measure metallic contaminants in jet engine oil.

The project will enable aircraft personnel to measure contaminants more quickly than before and to do this measurement on the ground beside an aircraft rather than in a lab or another location. As part of the project, GasTOPS will collaborate with Queen's and Carleton universities.

"Companies such as GasTOPS will drive growth through innovation across the aerospace sector," said Minister Paradis. "This project is a great example of the technological advances that can keep this country at the forefront of the international aerospace industry."

The Harper Government's contribution of $1.28 million will be made through the Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative (SADI). SADI supports industrial research and pre-competitive development projects in the aerospace, defence, space and security industries.

GasTOPS is one of the few small and medium-sized enterprises qualified and able to provide supplier-designed articles in the Joint Strike Fighter Program, the multi-national effort aimed at replacing a wide range of existing military aircraft. The project funded under today's announcement will enhance the company's capability in this regard and will generate additional opportunities across the aerospace market.

The Government of Canada has invested more than $826 million in research and development through SADI. These investments are expected to leverage an additional $1.6 billion in investment.