Harper Government Supports Emerging Technologies in Ontario

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 28, 2013) - While highlighting the Harper Government's support for the manufacturing sector in Economic Action Plan 2013, the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), today announced an investment in Leapfrog Lighting Inc. through the National Research Council of Canada's Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP).

"Our government is strongly committed to initiatives that support science, technology and the growth of innovative Canadian firms," said Minister of State Goodyear. "Manufacturing is critical to the Canadian economy, and our government will continue to put in place the tools that Canadians need to grow, create jobs and secure their long-term prosperity."

Economic Action Plan 2013 includes a number of measures to further help Canada's manufacturers grow, stay competitive and create jobs, including:

• Providing tax relief for new manufacturing machinery and equipment by extending the accelerated capital cost allowance for two years, increasing support for manufacturers by almost $1.4 billion.
• Improving support for Canada's aerospace industry by investing almost $1 billion in the Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative to ensure it continues to meet the needs of the industry.
• Supporting large-scale technology projects that exhibit strong commercial potential and promoting cross-industry collaboration by creating the Aerospace Technology Demonstration Program with an investment of $110 million over four years, beginning in 2014-15, and $55 million each year thereafter.
• Helping small and medium-sized enterprises commercialize their products or services more quickly through a $20-million, three-year pilot program delivered through NRC IRAP, which would provide credit notes to help pay for research, technology and business development services at universities, colleges and other not-for-profit research institutions of their choice.
• Building a stronger economy in Southern Ontario by providing $920 million to renew the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, with $200 million to be invested in a new Advanced Manufacturing Fund to help the province's manufacturing industry innovate and become more competitive.

"Lighting represents some 20 percent of total electricity generated, in part because incandescent bulbs waste 90 percent of the energy they use and they contribute 10 times more carbon pollution per year when compared to LED bulbs," said Stephen Naor, President and CEO of Leapfrog Lighting Inc. "By helping to fund the development of Leapfrog Lighting's LED technologies, this NRC IRAP support will accelerate the adoption of energy-efficient LED lighting and will have a major positive impact on the environment."

Leapfrog Lighting develops and markets advanced LED light bulbs with an optical and thermal design that provides measurable improvements in the lighting quality required by facility managers, architects and retailers. The $150,000 contribution will help the Ottawa-based company develop improved LED light bulbs to replace existing 60W and 100W incandescent light bulbs. These new bulbs will be more efficient and less expensive and will have better light quality.

NRC IRAP provides a range of both technical and business-oriented advisory services along with necessary financial support to qualified innovative small and medium-sized enterprises in Canada. It engages in cost-shared research and development (R&D) projects with its clients. Firms helped by NRC IRAP are better equipped to perform basic R&D, commercialize new products and processes, and access new markets.