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For Release
May 23, 2006
Energy Sector to Benefit from Technology Adoption
CALGARY, Alberta - Western Economic Diversification Canada to invest $2.5 million and the Government of Alberta $500,000 toward the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology's (SAIT) Centre for Innovative Information Technology Solutions (CIITS) to increase technology adoption in the energy sector.
The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians on behalf of the Honourable Carol Skelton, Minister of National Revenue and Minister of Western Economic Diversification and the Honourable Victor Doerksen, Minister of Alberta Innovation and Science made the announcement today.
The Centre will help companies accelerate their use and adoption of information technologies by providing them with business and process analysis, as well as a safe, vendor-neutral environment to learn and train with leading-edge information technology products and systems.
"The Government of Canada is committed to increasing Canada's productivity and competitiveness in the global marketplace," said Minister Prentice. "Investing in innovation will allow small businesses, the backbone of the Canadian economy, to become more productive in their operations through better use and adoption of information technology solutions and products."
"Increasing opportunities to apply research and technology in Alberta is a priority for the provincial government," said Victor Doerksen, Minister of Alberta Innovation and Science. "The innovative technology centre at SAIT will help Alberta manufacturers to become competitive internationally. This Centre is an example of the power of an effective partnership between the federal and provincial government, industry and an educational institution."
"The funding from our federal and provincial governments, coupled with the support of our corporate partners in the Centre for Innovative Information Technology Solutions, will help to make SAIT and southern Alberta a nexus for technology adoption and applied research," said Irene Lewis, SAIT's President and CEO. "The alliance between SAIT, government, business and industry
to create this Centre has forged a unique environment where organizations can test new information technology solutions quickly, effectively and safely. This will accelerate innovation and the evolution and adoption of these new systems."
CIITS will operate three components: the Training Cluster, the Solutions Simulation Pod, and the Future Factory. Through these features, CIITS will address training and development issues in order to increase efficiencies as well as address the lack of competitive knowledge of supply chains advantages through agility, logistics, lead times and the availability of skilled personnel in Alberta. Although the CIITS will initially target the Alberta energy-manufacturing sector, services will also be offered to other companies in the advanced manufacturing sector.
For additional information, contact:
|
Fiona MacLeod Donna Kinley |
Anne Douglas Russ Peters |
WD Toll-Free Number:
1 888 338-WEST (9378) |
Backgrounder
Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD)
- Western Economic Diversification Canada works in partnership with the provinces, industry associations and communities to stimulate and diversify Western Canada’s economy, as well as to represent the interests of the West in national economic policy.
- WD is announcing a contribution of $2.5 million to the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology’s (SAIT) Centre for Innovative Information Technologies Solutions (CIITS). This investment is directed towards the Centre’s equipment resources.
- WD’s investment, made through its Western Diversification Program (WDP), supports the Government of Canada’s commitments to facilitate innovation, promote a competitive and expanded business sector and develop vibrant communities.
- The underlying objective of the WDP is to create a stronger West and a stronger Canada. Several guiding principles are used to help assess how initiatives contribute to this objective, including:
- increased economic activity that improves the viability, prosperity, and quality of life for individuals and communities across Western Canada.
- increased economic research in the areas of sustainable communities, innovation and entrepreneurship to provide a sound base for economic development in areas of importance to Western Canada.
- Other elements that are considered when determining the relative merit of proposals include: the measurable impact on the western Canadian economy, viability and sustainability, long-term benefits, and the participation of other stakeholders.
Alberta Innovation and Science
- Provides strategic leadership for science and research in Alberta.
- Manages and funds investments in science and research in three priority areas: energy research, information and communications technology, and life sciences.
- Facilitates technology commercialization and development to build knowledge-intensive industries in Alberta
- Provincial involvement and discussions with the federal government on the centre began in January 2005 with the signing of an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) including SAIT and Microsoft for the supply of manufacturing supply chain software leveraged by the promise of government funding. The CIITS centre has now evolved into a significant public-private partnership with the support of both the federal and provincial governments.
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology’s (SAIT) Centre for Innovative Information Technology Solutions (CIITS)
- SAIT is Canada’s premier polytechnic, providing relevant, skill-oriented education that equips graduates to compete successfully in the changing world of work. Established in 1916, SAIT provides career training to more than 70,000 registrants every year in the areas of energy, construction, manufacturing and automation, information and communications technology, business, health and transportation. SAIT offers four applied degrees, 60 diploma and certificate programs, 32 apprenticeship programs and 2,100 continuing education and customized business and industry courses.
- The goal of the Centre for Innovative Information Technology Solutions is to work with small- to medium-sized companies to decrease their cost and risk when they adopt new information technology. Wherever technology can help business, the Centre, with its expert staff and state-of-the-art facilities can help find, proof and implement that technology.
- The Centre has partnership agreements with Microsoft, HP, Cisco and many others. These partnerships are based on the understanding that the facility is vendor-neutral, providing clients with access to products from many providers. This allows clients to test products from different companies, and choose the one that is right for them. Thanks to this approach, the Centre’s clients can also rely on being provided unbiased support to the technology adoption process.
- To facilitate learning, discovery and prototyping, the Centre will operate three components:
- The Training Cluster will incorporate the use of PDAs, desktops, laptops, networks and tablet PCs hardware devices within each workstation.
- The Solutions Simulation Pod will allow small- to medium-sized companies to model and simulate their current operations and collaborate with industry experts to determine the best approach to driving improvements in operational effectiveness.
- The Future Factory offers manufacturers the chance to extend their technology adoption programs to manufacturing systems and enterprise-wide systems integration.