Calgary, Alberta – The Government of Canada is strengthening Alberta’s position as a global leader in the high-tech field of geomatics by providing local companies with access to specialized equipment needed to develop new products and services for the market.
Today, Lee Richardson, Member of Parliament for Calgary Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced an investment of $6 million towards TECTERRA Inc. to acquire prototyping and pilot testing equipment.
“Our Government’s investment is enabling small- and medium-sized geomatics firms to access leading-edge equipment and resources that are essential for developing new technologies for market in a cost efficient manner, as well as generating high-value jobs in our communities,” said MP Richardson.
The equipment significantly enhances TECTERRA’s existing technology development services that are delivered through its Prototyping and Pilot Projects (p2P) program. By providing firms the ability to evaluate and assess their technologies, the project is expected to result in a more rapid movement of new ideas and applications from the lab to market.
“This investment from the Government of Canada strengthens TECTERRA’s capacity to stimulate Alberta’s resource-based economy by supporting the commercialization of geomatics technology and the development of highly qualified professionals in the province,” said Dr. Mohamed Abousalem, Chief Executive Officer at TECTERRA.
Geomatics is the science and technology of gathering, analyzing and using geographical information. Geomatics technologies have a wide range of applications in a number of sectors, including oil and gas, environment, agriculture, and forestry. In Alberta, there are an estimated 500 geomatics companies that support the employment of approximately 7,300 people. Annual revenues for the geomatics sector in Alberta are expected to reach more than $5.7 billion by 2017.
As a not-for-profit Centre of Excellence for Commercialization and Research, TECTERRA supports the commercialization of geomatics technologies, with a specific focus on applications for the resource sectors.
Western Economic Diversification Canada works with the provinces, industry associations and communities to promote the development and diversification of the western economy, coordinates federal economic activities in the West and advances the interests of western Canadians in national decision making.
