Harper Government Supports New Research Chair in Mobile Technology at New Brunswick Community College

FREDERICTON, NEW BRUNSWICK--(Marketwired - May 23, 2013) - The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), today announced an investment in New Brunswick Community College for a new industrial research chair for colleges in the field of mobile technology. Research will focus on new approaches to expand our ability to carry out tasks with our handheld devices.

"Our government encourages colleges to work with local partners, transferring their expertise to benefit their communities," said Minister of State Goodyear. "Canada's long-term economic competitiveness depends on supporting research and development that drives innovation."

New Brunswick Community College will be awarded $845,888 over five years under the College and Community Innovation (CCI) Program. Dr. William McIver, who will be the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Industrial Research Chair for Colleges in Mobile First Technology, will help expand the range of activities mobile users can perform with their handheld devices, including shopping, playing games, paying bills and searching maps. The chair is also supported by the following partners: Spielo, Technology Venture Corporation, Stellar Learning Strategies and Accreon.

"To be at the forefront of innovation, our government must invest in colleges to give them access to people, resources and tools," said the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Member of Parliament for Fredericton, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway. "By doing this, we help the next generation of innovators enter the workforce while supplying small businesses with access to Canada's best and brightest."

The objective of the CCI Program is to increase innovation at the community and regional level by enabling Canadian colleges to work more closely with local companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises. The CCI Program is managed by NSERC in collaboration with the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

More information on the CCI Program is available on the NSERC website (www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca).