New Wireless Chair Announced at the University of Calgary

Calgary, Alberta, October 29, 2002 – Tom Brzustowski, President of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), today announced funding of the new iCORE/NSERC/TRLabs Industrial Research Chair in Wireless Science and Technology at the University of Calgary. NSERC is providing $600,000 over five years, with iCORE contributing $1 million and TRLabs $600,000.

The chairholder is Dr. James Haslett – an international leader in the area of device modelling, analog integrated circuit design and sensor system development. His cutting-edge research program will conduct basic research into devices, circuits and systems for next-generation applications in communications and biomedicine.

“The collaboration of iCORE and TRLabs is a major research boost for the industry,” said Dr. Haslett. “The design of products that operate at higher frequencies represents an increasing challenge for every Canadian company in this field. It’s also exciting for our students to work in a collaborative environment in such a promising ‘hot’ area.”

“Canada’s long-term prosperity is intrinsically linked to new knowledge,” said Allan Rock. “The commercialization of Canadian research in strategically important areas, such as wireless and technology, is key to our competitiveness in all markets.”

“The partnership of iCORE, NSERC, and TRLabs is not only a major research boost for the industry,” said Dr. Rey Pagtakhan, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Science, Research, and Development), “it also builds on our strengths in leading-edge research and innovation in wireless.”

“Bringing the best of academia and industry together moves Canada towards its goal of becoming one of the top five R&D-performing nations,” said Dr. Brzustowski. “Research-based innovation means coming up with new understanding and new ideas through research and putting them to work through industry. It requires a climate that supports both creativity and entrepreneurial success.”

NSERC is a key federal agency investing in people, discovery, and innovation. The Council supports both basic university research through discovery grants and project research through partnerships among universities, governments and the private sector, as well as the advanced training of highly qualified people.

On February 12, 2002, the Government of Canada launched Canada’s Innovation Strategy, two papers that lay out a plan to address skills and innovation challenges for the next decade. The paper released by Minister Allan Rock was entitled Achieving Excellence: Investing in People, Knowledge and Opportunity. It proposes goals, targets and priorities for Canada over the next decade to: create knowledge and bring ideas to market more quickly; ensure a skilled workforce in the new economy; modernize business and regulatory policies while protecting the public interest; and, strengthen communities by supporting innovation at the local level. Today’s announcement supports this strategy.

For more information about Canada’s Innovation Strategy or to obtain a copy of either Knowledge Matters: Skills and Learning for Canadians or Achieving Excellence: Investing in People, Knowledge
and Opportunity, please call 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232) or visit www.innovationstrategy.gc.ca.

For further information contact:

Francis Lionnet
Communications
NSERC
Tel.: (613) 992-9001
E-mail: fzl@nserc.ca

Mary Ann Moser
Director of Communications
iCORE
Tel.: (403) 949-3306
E-mail: moser@netera.ca