Speaking Notes

The Honourable Gary Goodyear, PC, MP
Minister of State (Science and Technology)

Announcement of an NRC-IRAP Financial Contribution to ViXS Systems Inc.

Toronto, Ontario
July 21, 2009

Check Against Delivery

Thank you for the warm introduction.

And my thanks to the people of ViXS Systems Inc. for hosting us here today so we can make this important announcement.

I am pleased to be here today in Toronto, Ontario, to bring good news about the Government of Canada’s support for innovation in our community.

Since my appointment as Minister of State (Science and Technology) in October 2008, I have had the opportunity to travel across our great country. I have seen first-hand the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurial drive — a spirit that is alive and well, and flourishing not only in Toronto but across Ontario and throughout Canada, despite these difficult economic times.

ViXS Systems Inc. is an exceptional company, to say the least. Listed by Deloitte as one of the fastest-growing North American companies, ViXS is setting new standards in the way digital entertainment is viewed and transmitted across an endless array of multimedia products.

The firm can be described as a multimedia solutions innovator, providing technologies for processing, managing, securing and distributing high-quality video and audio that allow seamless multimedia control, conversion, and connectivity between any class and size of digital entertainment device.

I’ve been told that Angelo DelDuca, Director of National Research Council Canada’s Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC–IRAP) for the Ontario Region and the former advisor to ViXS, has seen the firm transform from a heavily research-based organization to successfully commercializing its proprietary video platform into major manufacturers within the Consumer Electronics sector — this, with sales in excess of $30 million dollars.

Canada needs strong leaders and innovators such as ViXS Systems to help develop novel products for the IT industry.

So it is with great pleasure today that I am announcing that through funding provided by the Government of Canada, NRC-IRAP is contributing up to $750,000 to ViSX Systems Inc. Its project, which will last 12 months, is estimated to cost $1 287 601 and is already under way.

Allow me take this opportunity to tell you in broad terms why the federal government supports innovation through science and technology. It is really quite simple. We support it because it creates jobs. It improves the quality of life for Canadians. And it strengthens our economy for future generations.

Canadians have always been innovators. We have a long history of creating new products and new ways of delivering services. Our track record in getting those ideas from the lab to the loading dock, however, has not always been stellar.

The Government of Canada is committed to moving Canadian research and development forward — from early development, right through to commercialization.

Two years ago, the Prime Minister launched Canada’s Science and Technology (S&T) Strategy. Our government will have invested more than $7 billion in new investments by 2011 to help stimulate economic activity through large-scale S&T investments.

Canada’s Economic Action Plan sets out our plan to spend another $5.1 billion on S&T-related stimulus efforts — a historic level of new funding commitments in a federal budget. Included in this plan are new resources totalling $200 million over two years for NRC-IRAP. It is through NRC-IRAP that we are able to support the innovative initiatives of firms like ViXS Systems Inc.

Across the country, we expect the new budget resources dedicated to IRAP to help companies hire more than 1000 new post-graduates. Those new jobs for our best and brightest are sorely needed — both by our young people and by our economy as a whole.

We need to build a competitive advantage for Canada. We need to invest in science and technology to ensure that we gain — and maintain — a competitive edge. We need to encourage the growth of highly skilled jobs.

Again, my sincere congratulations to Sally Daub and her team. I look forward to more good news from your company in the not-too-distant future.

Thank you all for joining us today and have a great afternoon.