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Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, announced on May 25, 2018, an investment of more than $26.7 million that will benefit 33 Canadian organizations.
This investment will create or secure 397 jobs and give 66 students valuable experience in space-related fields.
The funds will support 46 projects developing game-changing technologies in medicine, artificial intelligence, autonomous navigation, and virtual reality.
These projects will advance technologies designed to meet a variety of pressing needs in space and on Earth, including: managing astronauts’ health; mapping our land and waters; monitoring forest fires; improving weather forecasting; and advancing our understanding of climate change.
Quick facts
- This funding is awarded through the CSA’s Space Technology Development Program, which supports innovation to enhance the capabilities and competitiveness of Canada’s space sector;
- A portion of this funding was earmarked for small and medium-sized companies, which represent 93 per cent of the Canadian space industry;
- This initiative is part of the Government of Canada’s Innovation and Skills Plan, a multi-year strategy to create well-paying jobs for the middle class; and
- Overall, the space sector contributes 24,000 jobs (direct and indirect) to the Canadian economy and $2.7 billion to the Gross Domestic Product. It generates $5.3 billion in annual revenues.
“Today’s investments in space research and development will result in a higher quality of life for Canadians tomorrow,” said Bains. “Investing in Canada’s space sector’s capacity to innovate will lead to new discoveries, business opportunities for Canadian companies, and well-paying middle-class jobs in STEM.”
