Government of Canada Invests in Breakthrough Defence Technologies

Ottawa | November 18, 2005

The Honourable David L. Emerson, Minister of Industry, today announced a $5 million investment that will further advance a Canadian company's participation in the multinational Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program.

This Technology Partnerships Canada (TPC) investment is part of a $12.5-million research and development project being undertaken by Vancouver-based NGRAIN (Canada) Corporation. Through this initiative, NGRAIN will advance its three-dimensional (3-D) software technologies for use in the design, assembly and maintenance of the F-35 aircraft being produced by Lockheed Martin through the multinational JSF program.

"NGRAIN's technology will revolutionize aircraft design and assembly for the next generation," said Minister Emerson. "By supporting this type of innovation, we are reaffirming the Government of Canada's commitment to the JSF program and the Canadian aerospace and defence sector.

NGRAIN provides installation, maintenance and repair training solutions to the defence industry. Using its patented 3-D technology, the company helps everyday computer users to rapidly produce and interact with information-rich virtual equipment on common PCs. This investment will enable NGRAIN to further advance its 3-D software capabilities into manufacturing design and assembly, with a focus on the F-35 aircraft being produced by Lockheed Martin.

"One of the key tenets of the JSF program is affordability, and the innovative solutions developed by NGRAIN offer significant opportunities for cost savings," said Tom Burbage, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Joint Strike Fighter Program Integration for Lockheed Martin. "Lockheed Martin continues to welcome best-of-breed technologies from around the world as we build the next-generation aircraft for the United States, Canada and other nations."

Technology Partnerships Canada is a key instrument for advancing research and development toward commercialization. Working in partnership with innovative companies across Canada, TPC shares in the cost of private sector technology development projects in aerospace and defence, in environmental technologies, in enabling technologies such as biotechnology, and in information and communications technologies.

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