Success Stories

Alion Canada was established in 2007 for the purpose of developing a domestic ship design capability, primarily to support the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS). Since then, Alion Canada’s parent company, Alion Science and Technology, has invested heavily in growing naval architecture and engineering capability in Canada, increasing the Alion workforce in Ottawa from 2 to 58 employees. Alion is now a world leader in naval design and ship systems integration and is contributing significantly to several NSS projects, including the Joint Support Ships being built by Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards for the Royal Canadian Navy. Through extensive knowledge transfer from its operations in the United States, Alion Canada has been able to evolve its Canadian engineering capability for domestic and export programs, while also engaging domestically with a number of supply chain participants and academic organizations.

Most recently, Alion also recently announced a significant investment in the University of British Columbia’s Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering program to help support an open-water hydrodynamic test facility.

Bluedrop is a business based in Atlantic Canada which provides advanced e-learning courseware, learning platforms and simulations. Since its inception in 1992 and re-branding in 2004 as a leader in advanced learning, Bluedrop has developed expertise in the defence and aerospace sector, providing mission critical training solutions. The company was included in the Canadian Defence Review magazine's Top 50 Defence Companies in Canada.

None of Bluedrop's successes have escaped CAE, who selected Bluedrop on two of its projects: to provide aircrew training analysis and courseware development on CAE's Operational Training Systems Provider (OTSP) contract; and to provide maintenance technician training courseware on CAE's C130J Maintenance Training Program contract. Working with Bluedrop will help CAE meet its overall IRB obligations on these projects.

For Bluedrop, the work with CAE has not only helped it cement its position in the aerospace and defence sector, but it has given Bluedrop the opportunity to be a key partner in providing aircrew and technical training for other military platforms in Canada. Bluedrop has leveraged this great experience and working relationship with CAE to expand its business significantly.

BluMetric is an Ottawa, Ontario, based company employing approximately 170 people. The company provides cutting-edge work in the fields of water/wastewater treatment and professional environmental services.

BluMetric has been selected by Seaspan Vancouver Shipyard to design and deliver a Shipboard Reverse Osmosis Desalination System for the construction of the new Joint Support Ships. This will allow the company the opportunity to build on their experience working in the marine sector and specifically increase their experience working with Navy vessels through the National Shipbuilding Strategy.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company contributed $1,000,000 to British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) to help design and support the creation of the BCIT 3D simulation technology. This contribution helped to leverage a $500,000 contribution from Western Economic Diversification Canada and a $380,000 in-kind contribution from NGRAIN (Canada) Corporation. The Incubator will provide BCIT , the Canadian aerospace industry, and people in other areas such as healthcare, the ability to take commercial off the shelf ("COTS") systems and demonstrate how they can be used to help create full-service training/learning systems. The technology can also enable individuals to become adept problem solvers, to learn new skills, and to prepare for hands-on activities in real work environments.

The contribution by Lockheed Martin helps the IRB contractor to meet its IRB commitments on the CP140 Aurora Structural Life Extension Project and gives access to new technologies to design and develop products. The Canadian recipient benefits by improving its instructional delivery and having the ability to implement its strategic plan to generate productive graduates who will help advance the state-of-practice in their professions.

Bronswerk Group has a long relationship with the Royal Canadian Navy, having supplied Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Solutions (HVAC-R) for the Canadian Patrol Frigates since the 1980s. By being a leading global provider of HVAC systems, Bronswerk has secured contracts under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) on both coasts, providing Seaspan and Irving Shipbuilding Inc. with marine-grade HVAC-R systems and equipment. As a result of its contracts with both shipyards, Bronswerk has subcontracted work to more than 30 Quebec-based small- and medium-sized businesses and grown its Canadian operations by 25%. Bronswerk has also entered new markets as a result of its involvement in the NSS; a number of countries have expressed interest in equipment and engineering services, including the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Netherlands.

The Boeing Company and Canadian industry partners created a research and development consortium aimed at strengthening Canada's competitive position in the manufacturing of advanced composite materials for aerospace and other industries. The Canadian Composites Manufacturing Research and Development (CCMRD) Consortium is a virtual centre of excellence that brings together major aerospace companies and small-to-medium sized enterprises to develop and transform the latest composite material technologies into practical solutions that will enhance the global competitiveness of Canadian industry.

The CCMRD will help advance the technological capabilities of Canadian industry and build stronger relationships among Canadian and international aerospace original equipment manufacturers, as well as Canadian material, equipment, component and software suppliers. The CCMRD was formed in cooperation with the Composites Innovation Centre (CIC) in Winnipeg, National Research Council Canada's Institute for Aerospace Research (NRC-IAR) in Ottawa, and The Boeing Company. Founding Canadian member companies include Bell Helicopter and Avior Integrated Products in Quebec; Comtek Advanced Structures in Ontario; Convergent Manufacturing Technologies and Profile Composites in British Columbia; and Bristol Aerospace and Cormer Group Industries Inc. in Manitoba. Since its formation in April 2010, the CCMRD has added two new members to the consortium, Barrday Inc. in Ontario and PCM Molds & Patterns in Quebec. The consortium already has completed one project, has two projects in progress, and is preparing to launch three additional projects.

In addition to financial support, Boeing is providing technical expertise and project guidance through its central research, technology and innovation organisation, Boeing Research & Technology. Boeing Canada Operations Ltd. in Winnipeg is taking part in CCMRD projects along with other consortium members. Boeing's contribution to the CCMRD is helping meet Boeing's IRB obligations on the Medium-to-Heavy Lift Helicopter project.

The Marine People Partnership, operating through the Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship (COVE), facilitated a multi-day conference in July of 2018 for 50+ educators from across Nova Scotia on experiential ocean education. The input from the teachers during this conference helped formulate the Taking Making into Classrooms: Ocean Toolkit, a collection of ocean activities for the classroom. Funding for the Marine People Partnership is part of Irving Shipbuilding’s Value Proposition commitments under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS). Irving Shipbuilding provided blueprints and instructions so classes could build their very own Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS). The activity will help students understand the work of the engineers, skilled tradespeople, quality inspectors, and project managers who are building six AOPS for the Royal Canadian Navy at Halifax Shipyard as part of the NSS.

Corvus Energy is a company based in Richmond, British Columbia, which provides high-power energy storage in the form of modular lithium ion battery systems. Its purpose-built, field-proven battery systems provide sustained power to hybrid and fully electric heavy industrial equipment, including large marine propulsion systems. Through the National Shipbuilding Strategy, Corvus Energy has been selected for international export opportunities as a result of Industrial and Technological Benefits obligations on the Joint Support Ships and Offshore Fisheries and Science Vessels projects. Examples of the work provided by Corvus Energy include the supply of their Energy Storage Systems and research and development services for hybrid ferry applications abroad.

Contractors like Daimler AG and General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada (GDLS-C) both know the value of Dumur Industries, a precision metal machining and fabrication company in White City, Saskatchewan. Dumur is providing refueller and water pods for Daimler's Armoured Heavy Support Vehicle System, along with associated training. For GDLS-C , Dumur started manufacturing just a few parts for the Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) and, over time, grew this business relationship to become a supplier of over 1100 individual machined, welded and fabricated parts for the LAV and STRYKER family of vehicles.

Originally focussed on the commercial food industry, Dumur actively began seeking out defence opportunities through the IRB Policy and has been very successful in securing work with these IRB Contractors. Defence work now represents a substantial portion of Dumur's business. For Daimler and GDLS-C, Dumur represents a reliable, high-quality Western supplier.

D-Wave is a B.C. -based company at the forefront of quantum computing, building systems that solve problems where data volume and complexity are overwhelming, such as software verification and validation, financial risk analysis, and medical imaging classification.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company (LM) has engaged with D-Wave in two ways. First, LM established an IRB consortium to research quantum computing. The consortium partners include Lockheed Martin, D-Wave, and several Canadian universities. Second, LM purchased D-Wave's first ever quantum computer system. That contract includes the computer system as well as the maintenance and associated professional services related to the system.

These strategic business activities with D-Wave are helping LM meet its IRB obligation on the Tactical Airlift project and advancing an important area of research for LM . For D-Wave, the partnership represents an ideal opportunity to work with a world industry leader and explore how their cutting edge technology can be put to use solving industry problems.

Genoa Design from Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador has been providing production lofting, detail design, and 3D modeling services to shipbuilding and offshore industries around the world since 1995. Genoa’s technology, which builds a 3D model of a vessel from design specifications and extracts manufacturing information, is being used by Seaspan on the Offshore Fisheries and Science Vessels, the Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel and the Royal Canadian Navy’s Joint Support Ships. Since securing work under the National Shipbuilding Strategy, the company has grown more than six times in size and revenue, created an in-house academy for technical and career development, obtained ISO certification, has been awarded additional military, coast guard and science projects in the United States, and has added to its capacity and breadth of capabilities.

Hawboldt Industries has been an original equipment manufacturer in the marine sector for more than 100 years. It has most recently succeeded in leveraging the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) to quadruple its engineering headcount to approximately 20 percent of its workforce. Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards has engaged Hawboldt to design and manufacture more than 25 pieces of deck equipment and related systems on all three of the Offshore Fisheries Science Vessels. Successfully evolving from an equipment supplier to now also performing a system integrator role has expanded Hawboldt’s expertise and strengthened its positioning in the global marketplace. The establishment of a long-term relationship with Seaspan has also allowed the company to invest further in skills development, training, and new product expansion.

Ideal Welders is based in Delta, British Columbia, and has been providing high-quality and innovative welding solutions for over 50 years. From engineering design and custom mechanical fabrication to modular piping solutions, Ideal Welders is the largest pressure vessel and piping fabrication shop in British Columbia. Through the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS), Ideal Welders has been selected by Seaspan Vancouver Shipyards to provide pipe spools for both the Offshore Fisheries and Science Vessels and the Joint Support Ships. Participation in the NSS has allowed Ideal Welders to hire more than 30 new employees, with plans to increase that number. Furthermore, the company has been able to re-invest in machinery, equipment and increased training for employees.

Headquartered in Burlington, Ontario, with a second location in Hamilton, IRCO Automation designs, engineers, and manufactures integrated welding automation solutions and weld positioning products that help improve quality and efficiency in heavy industry. As a result of their Industrial and Technological Benefits obligations on Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship, BAE Systems has selected IRCO to design, fabricate and install a complete line of mechanized welding and positioning systems to help make submarine missile tubes for the United States Navy’s Virginia class submarines, the new backbone of the United States submarine force.

Daimler, and its Canadian division Mercedes-Benz Canada, delivered its G-Wagon to the Canadian Forces in 2004 and continues to provide in-service support through contracts under the Light Utility Vehicle Wheeled (LUVW) project. As part of its IRB obligation, Daimler is working with Jroberts Manufacturing Inc., a precision machining and fabrication company located in Woodbridge, Ontario. Jroberts has performed design upgrades, manufacturing and overhaul services to the LUVW vehicle's turret assembly.

For Jroberts, the LUVW success reflects years of hard work, wherein Jroberts thoroughly researched Daimler and its LUVW vehicle, proactively engineered an improved turret and sold the idea to Daimler officials. Jroberts is now reaping the benefits of increased employment and the opening of a new repair and overhaul facility operating a CARC (chemical agent resistant coating) system in Toronto. Jroberts is delivering technical solutions for military work in other areas.

L3Harris MAPPS and its suppliers in Quebec have a long and productive relationship with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). As part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS), Irving Shipbuilding Inc. (ISI) has contracted L3Harris MAPPS to design and deliver the Integrated Platform Management System for the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships that are under construction by ISI. The relationship between L3Harris MAPPS, ISI, and the RCN continues to position L3Harris MAPPS to explore new export opportunities for its world-class product, which has already been deployed on over 250 warships in 22 different navies around the world.

With over 25 years of experience, LED Smart, a Canadian small business in Edmonton, Alberta, is at the forefront of advanced LED lighting systems and controls, with dual-use application in defence and commercial areas.

Photo ownership of Desiree Wartenbe/LED Smart

As a result of its ITB obligation on the Headquarters Shelter Systems (HQSS) Acquisition project, Weatherhaven selected LED Smart to develop and provide the specialized tactical lighting, power, and control systems for the HQSS. LED Smart has subsequently applied this technology on specialized lighting solutions for the United States (U.S.) Navy’s fleet of military combat and non-combat surface and below-surface seafaring vessels, as well as for the U.S. Army’s Next Generation Automatic Test System’s shelter. This significant increase in sales and production resulted in LED Smart hiring an additional 36 employees, growing their workforce to 76 personnel. It also resulted in the company opening a brand new state-of-the-art facility in Surrey, British Columbia, for work on specialized LED lighting, controls, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), research, development, design, in-house certification, testing, and high-speed production.

Mannarino Systems & Software (MANNARINO) is a Montréal-based small and medium business (SMB) providing safety-critical systems, software, and airborne electronic hardware engineering services to the aerospace, defense, and space industries.

In 2017, Lockheed Martin signed an Investment Framework Agreement with MANNARINO, as a direct result of its Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy obligations on its In-Service-Support contract for the maintenance and support of 17 CC-130J Super Hercules aircraft. This $10M USD agreement represents the largest investment ever made by LM into an SMB in Canada and it enabled MANNARINO to develop and commercialize its own airborne software products.

This ITB investment has helped to create more than 25 new jobs in MANNARINO’s head office in Montréal, Quebec; jobs focussed on both engineering research and development and the commercialization of Mannarino’s own proprietary real-time operating system (RTOS). As a result, Mannarino has received additional work from multiple companies in the civil aviation industry to provide engineering services and integrate its RTOS on to next-generation avionics products. With the commercialization of its own RTOS, MANNARINO is also the only commercial off-the-shelf RTOS supplier with certification delegation.

Mil-Aero Electronics, located in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia specializes in the manufacture and integration of high performance electrical assemblies, build-to-print electrical cables and harness assemblies, electrical control boxes and other value-added parts for the defence, aerospace, and industrial markets.

Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems has contracted Mil-Aero for the production of Radio Frequency cable assemblies. Mil-Aero's success with this work has positioned the company to participate in future opportunities, not only with Raytheon but with other leading international aerospace and defence manufacturers.

This relationship was developed because of Raytheon’s Industrial and Regional Benefits (IRB) obligations to Canada as a result of the CF-18 Defensive Electronic Warfare Suites project. For Mil-Aero it has provided the opportunity to integrate into the supply chain of a world leader in the industry, and to demonstrate the quality of their products and services to other global contractors.

Modest Tree is a Nova Scotia-based simulation and training software developer that is creating a first-of-its-kind virtual reality training solution in the marine sector to help train the men and women of the Royal Canadian Navy to operate and maintain the engines of the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship currently under construction at Halifax Shipyard. The development and delivery of the virtual reality trainer will create seven new full-time technology positions in software development, expanding Modest Trees team to 31.

In order to diversify their workforce and respond to the growing need for skilled workers in their community, Irving Shipbuilding Inc. (ISI) has developed the Irving Shipbuilding Centre of Excellence with Nova Scotia Community College. The Centre of Excellence works to create an entry point for underrepresented groups to train for careers and benefit from Canada’s revitalized shipbuilding industry. By the launch of the first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) vessel in September, ISI and its partners will have offered bursaries or programs for over 100 individuals from underrepresented groups in shipbuilding, including Pathways to Shipbuilding for Indigenous Canadians, Pathways to Shipbuilding for African Nova Scotians and a partnership with Women Unlimited (for under- or unemployed women). As well, many of the graduates of these programs were offered employment at the Halifax Shipyards.

With a focus on ocean transportation through Canada’s Arctic, the Enhanced Capacity for Oil Spill Situational Awareness and Response (ECOSAR) is one of nine research projects supported by Irving Shipbuilding’s $2-million investment in the Nunavut Arctic College. The investment supports nine applied Arctic research projects focused on areas of importance to Canada’s Arctic communities and marine industry. The ECOSAR team is led by C-CORE, a not-for-profit research-and-development corporation based at Memorial University in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. C-CORE specializes in research-based advisory services and technology solutions for harsh environments. The project includes work on detecting oil spills through satellite data, and appropriately training local responders.

In August 2018, the ECOSAR team worked closely with the Nunavut Department of Environment to prepare and deliver an oil spill response course in Iqaluit, Nunavut. This workshop was attended by 20 representatives from every region of Nunavut. These representatives became trainers, with the goal of returning to their regions to help build a critical mass of potential responders to oil spills for all Nunavut communities.

Founded in 1979, OSI Maritime Systems (OSI) is recognized as a global high-tech company and is the only Canadian company that provides integrated navigation and bridge systems. OSI has grown substantially with offices spread across four continents. OSI will be performing project management, engineering, testing and documentation work on the Integrated Bridge and Navigation Systems of the Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) being built by Irving Shipbuilding Inc. This work is directly contributing to more than 35 high-tech jobs at OSI in Burnaby, British Columbia.

Pratt & Whitney US supported the development of the new Pratt & Whitney Canada Mirabel Aerospace Centre (MAC) for the assembly and test of new engines. The MAC will be responsible for the assembly of the PW800 engine for the next generation of business class jets and the PurePower® PW150G engines for the Bombardier CSeries. The MAC will also feature an engine flight test facility that will house two 747 aircraft that have been retro fitted to conduct flight tests. The test facility will be a global flight test centre for all of Pratt & Whitney's next generation of engines.

The Mirabel Aerospace Centre is a leading, state of the art 300,000-square-foot facility for Pratt & Whitney Canada, a United Technologies Company. It represents a $360 million investment and will employ approximately 300 people within the next five years. The facility is located at the Montreal-Mirabel Airport in Mirabel, Quebec.

The development of this facility is a part of Pratt & Whitney IRB obligation on the purchase of 18 engines for Canada's fleet of C-17 transport aircraft. This IRB activity will generate approximately $108 million in IRB activity, which does not include investments from the Quebec government. This project is an example how the IRB Policy can help ensure high technology work comes to Canada.

ProNautic is based in British Columbia and specializes in the manufacturing, servicing and installation of custom ship interiors. The company has played a significant role in the marine industry for more than two decades. ProNautic was selected in 2010 by Irving Shipbuilding to design and manufacture the interior fittings, joiners, linings, ceilings and doors for the nine Mid-Shore Patrol Vessels (MSPV) which Irving is building for the Canadian Coast Guard.

For Irving, this partnership with ProNautic will help it meet its requirements on the MSPV project and demonstrates their commitment to providing regional opportunities. For ProNautic, its participation on the MSPV project supports the company’s corporate strategy to further its growth in the niche defence marine market. The work has supported plant utilization and preserved advanced-technology employment at this modern production facility.

QRA Corp is an emerging developer of systems and requirements engineering technology based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. QRA’s technology and capabilities have been used by engineering teams around the world to avoid costly reworks, enable confident engineering, and find previously undetected catastrophic design flaws.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics was introduced to QRA through an earlier IRB project with Dalhousie University and began working with QRA Corp to fulfill its obligations on the C130J aircraft program. The collaboration has enabled QRA Corp to further develop its high technology engineering tools—QVtrace & QVscribe—to analyze increasingly complex and powerful systems

These projects bring QRA closer to achieving their vision: freeing innovation and innovators from excessive cost and delays associated with increased systems complexity. QRA now has a presence within the global value chain of a large aerospace and defence multinational company and has a clear demonstration of the quality of their systems engineering tools.

Rheinmetall Canada operates a large facility in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, where it manufactures and services a variety of advanced weapon and defence systems. The IRB Policy has been an important factor in the company's success and growth over the years.

First, the Quebec facility (originally owned by Oerlikon Contraves) was established as an IRB activity itself, as part of the Air Defence Anti-Tank System (ADATS) project won by Oerlikon in 1986. Over the years, the company developed a strong knowledge of the Canadian procurement process and requirements, in part through performing long-term in-service support on the ADATS .

Oerlikon Contraves was sold to the Rheinmetall Group in 1999. Since then, the Rheinmetall Group has won several military contracts with the Canadian government, including the Halifax Class Modernization Shield Replacement, Close Area Suppression Weapon and the Repair and Overhaul of the 42 Leopard 2 A4 Training Tanks. In each case, Rheinmetall Canada successfully leveraged the IRB Policy as part of its business case to secure technology transfer and major parts of the work share from its parent companies. This work has helped diversify its product base, promote long-term job and financial stability and position Rheinmetall Canada for future growth.

Rosborough Boats, a third-generation Nova Scotia boat builder, is working directly with Irving Shipbuilding Inc. (ISI) on the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship project, providing 12 Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats. This work is allowing Rosborough to sustain and grow its current workforce, as well as providing new opportunities to partner with other small businesses in Nova Scotia. In 2018, Rosborough achieved a key milestone with the delivery of the first boat to the Royal Canadian Navy. This long-term, mutually beneficial partnership with ISI will help Rosborough Boats pursue export opportunities in international markets.

The business and IRB relationship between General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada (GDLS-C) and Rutter Inc., of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, is a long and positive one. Rutter is a provider of repair, in service support, design and manufacturing services for complex military assemblies.

Beginning in the late 1980's, GDLS-C included Rutter as part of its IRB program on the Bison Light Armoured Vehicle project with a contract to purchase 199 panel assemblies for vehicles to be procured by Canada.

Extending from that original commitment, Rutter has since provided assemblies for all GDLS-C 's export markets, including Australia, New Zealand, the United States and other foreign military sales programs, as well as continuing to participate on subsequent Canadian acquisitions of Light Armoured Vehicles.

The success behind the relationship shared by Rutter and GDLS-C is a reflection of commitment from both companies and captures the goals and spirit of the IRB Policy.

Rutter's success and sustained competitiveness in its work with GDLS-C has allowed it to grow and mature as a contract manufacturer to the defence industry and position itself for similar work with other global manufacturers. GDLS-C 's commitment to in-country supplier development has facilitated the growth of Rutter as a strong regional supplier.

Thales is developing its next generation, Advanced Phased Array Radar (APAR) system and is pursuing global sales. As part of its participation in and IRB obligation on the Halifax Class Modernization project (with prime Lockheed Martin Canada), Thales selected Sanmina (formerly Breconridge Corporation) to undertake high complexity redesign, development and manufacturing of key microwave modules for its APAR sale to the Royal Danish Navy.

This high-quality APAR work will increase Sanmina's revenues by over $50 million over 9 years and help maintain and create many highly skilled engineering and manufacturing jobs at the company. It will also help solidify Sanmina's presence in the defence market and build a strategic foundation for future work, not only with Thales but with other defence contractors requiring broad electronics capabilities.

Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology (SIIT) is a post-secondary and trades training institution in Saskatchewan, in operation since 1973. As a key part of its programming, SIIT began developing in 2006 an Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME) Program and the Saskatchewan Aviation Learning Center, to serve both the pressing needs identified by the aviation industry and to increase the success of First Nation students seeking to enter the aviation trades.

The AME program and the Saskatchewan Aviation Learning Center opened its doors as an Approved Training Organization under Transport Canada in 2010. This project was assisted with the support of federal and provincial governments, the airport authority and major defence contractors such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Rockwell Collins. These major defence contractors all have IRB obligations to Canada related to their various military contracts.

SIIT actively sought out opportunities through the IRB framework and successfully leveraged IRB contributions from these defence contractors, helping to obtain the equipment, training and curriculum required to successfully certify, launch and operate the AME . Today, SIIT 's AME is a model of industry-academic partnership. It has a current enrolment of 19 students in years one and two of the program. The first graduates will exit in Spring 2012 and all have secured employment in the local aviation industry. Students require 48 months of both classroom and industry training prior to challenging the AME licensing exams.

With the AME Program success, SIIT has established strong working relationships with defence contractors and will continue to propose training and business opportunities to them within the IRB framework.

TC Energy is a major North American energy company, based in Calgary, Alberta, that develops and operates energy infrastructure across Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

TC Energy and Lockheed Martin entered into an agreement in 2019 to identify and develop large-scale, long duration energy storage projects using Lockheed Martin’s GridStar^® Flow technology; the first project of which is the Saddlebrook Solar + Storage Project, located in Aldersyde, Alberta. The facility is expected to consist of a ~400 acre solar generating facility, and Lockheed Martin’s GridStar^® Flow Energy Storage System (ESS), to provide a dispatchable source of clean energy to Alberta’s electric power grid. It will be one of the first and most substantial large-scale solar and flow battery projects in Canada and is expected to provide up to 102.5 megawatts (MW) of solar power — enough electricity to power approximately 30,000 homes.

The project includes the research expertise in sustainable electrical energy systems from the University of Calgary. The University supports the project through the development of ESS modeling to increase the efficiency of power dispatching during times of lower solar activity. A team of professors and graduate students from the Schulich School of Engineering leads this effort.

Lockheed Martin is providing an investment of $11.3 million to this collaborative research partnership to support its Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) obligations on the Tactical Airlift Capability project. This is an excellent example of how the ITB Policy can leverage defence procurement to support innovation and collaborative research around clean technology capabilities. Contributions from Lockheed Martin and TC Energy will create over 100 jobs in Southern Alberta and the project is expected to reduce GHG emissions by up to 115,000 tonnes per year.

This innovative project has also been awarded $10 million in funding through Emissions Reduction Alberta’s BEST Challenge, a funding opportunity supporting Biotechnology, Electricity, & Sustainable Transportation projects.

Techsol Marine has been operating in the marine electrotechnology field for over 20 years. The Quebec-based company has equipped over 400 vessels around the world with systems ranging from simple Alarm & Monitoring to full integration of power distribution, propulsion, consoles and navigation equipment. All of Techsol’s products are designed, fabricated, assembled and tested at their headquarters in Quebec City. Techsol Marine was contracted by Seaspan to undertake work on the Offshore Fisheries Science Vessels, both for construction engineering and ship build. The company will supply electrical components for the vessels and will also be tasked to manufacture components of the command and control console.

Toolcomm, an Aboriginal-owned small business based on the Capilano First Nations Reserve in Vancouver, British Columbia, has been working on shipbuilding projects since 2011. Toolcomm was originally contracted to work on the Mid-shore Patrol Vessel as part of the Industrial and Regional Benefits Policy. Most recently, Lockheed Martin Canada’s (LMC) partners sub-contracted Toolcomm to provide Voice over Internet Protocol and High Frequency Radios for the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) project. Toolcomm’s unique know-how in developing custom hardware, firmware, software, and electro-mechanical devices, has made it a valuable asset to Irving Shipbuilding Inc., LMC, and the entire AOPS project.

The Boeing Company, as part of its IRB activities on the Strategic Airlift Project, is donating funding over a five-year period to a joint project between the University of British Columbia (UBC) and Simon Fraser University (SFU) to evaluate and improve visual analytic processes for interpreting complex data. The goal of the project is to develop new processes for using 2D and 3D visual analytical models and statistical data to improve the maintainability and reliability of new aerospace products. The investment will help the university consortium become a leader in applied visual analytics.

The project includes the development of an applied visual analytics curriculum. Project results will be published, presented and shared in workshops. Along with the cash donation, the universities benefit from the expertise of Boeing engineering staff and in-house internship opportunities. The relationship among Boeing, UBC and SFU is proving successful, already resulting in significant research, published work and internship opportunities and more on the near horizon.

IBM is a member of the Lockheed Martin Canada team delivering the Halifax Class Modernization project, providing its Multi-Link product to upgrade Canada's fleet of frigates.

One of IBM's indirect IRB activities involves the contribution of a hardware and software solution delivered to the University of Toronto, to build and support the high performance supercomputer which forms the basis of the SciNet project.

Valued at $28.5 million, IBM's in-kind contribution has been combined with that of other funding partners in a broader research consortium, which includes support from the federal and provincial governments as well as theUniversity of Toronto and affiliated research hospitals. Together, the SciNet project is enabling research into areas such as biomedical sciences, climate research and aerospace engineering, at a scale not previously possible in Canada.

Vard Electro Canada, an expert in detailed electrical engineering, procurement and product integration was formed in 2016, under its parent company Vard Electro Norway, in direct response to Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS). Since then, the company has been awarded work on two NSS projects: the Joint Support Ships for the Royal Canadian Navy and the Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel for the Canadian Coast Guard. In only two years, Vard Electro Canada has grown to more than 25 employees in Vancouver and Ottawa. Vard Electro Norway recently designated Vard Electro Canada as its global Electrical Engineering Design Centre of Excellence for Government Vessels. Vard Electro Canada continues to grow as it delivers on its commitments on the NSS projects, as well as pursuing additional work globally.