Research & Development

National Research Council of Canada

The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) knows that the industries it serves must be competitive. The manufacturing sector is of tremendous importance to the Canadian economy, and NRC has recently revitalized its manufacturing research programs to help manufacturing compete successfully at an international level.

Integrated Manufacturing Technologies Institute

In 1997 the NRC opened the Integrated Manufacturing Technologies Institute (IMTI) in London. The Institute's focus is on the integration of manufacturing technologies as they relate to discrete product manufacturing.

IMTI is a leader and catalyst for the research and development of manufacturing technologies to allow the Canadian manufacturing industry to be competitive. Specifically, IMTI activities are concentrated in two areas:

• Design - IMTI provides the tools so manufacturers can exchange design, manufacturing data and information in real time with others (customers, suppliers and others) anywhere in the world. The IMTI Virtual Environment Technologies Centre (VETC) is the most advanced centre of its kind in the world. The Centre offers manufacturers the chance to create a virtual reality model of a product to better view any design flaws so that changes can be made without the time and expense of creating a scale model. This technology drastically reduces the time between concept, design and manufacturing.
• Production - IMTI provides manufacturers with novel production processes to fabricate the products that their clients want. IMTI takes full advantage of material properties and produces shapes that are difficult or impossible to make with conventional processes. The IMTI Precision and Freeform Technologies Centre (PFTC) provides industry with tools to develop new technologies that can lead to commercialization. It can organize and conduct joint development and application projects that integrate new or hybridized process technologies into machines and systems.

The integration of these two areas to create new machines or systems that users can buy is crucial. To this end, IMTI seeks the collaboration of users and system integrators (machine suppliers, equipment builders) to participate in the R&D and the transfer of technology. For highly competitive companies, these resources can make the difference between success and failure.

Industrial Research Assistance Program

Located at IMTI, the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) is designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) meet the unique challenges they face in developing new products, processes and services. IRAP offers a range of services designed to help SMEs access key resources, expert advice, new technologies, testing facilities, and financial assistance. Funding for small-scale projects is available for up to 50% of eligible project costs (costs associated with sub-contracting and consultant fees for example) to a maximum of US$9,450. Funding for large-scale R&D activities is available for up to 50% of eligible project costs from US$9,450 to US$220,500 over a period of up to 36 months.

Faculty of Engineering, The University of Western Ontario

The Faculty of Engineering at The University of Western Ontario supports several local manufacturing companies with resources, research facilities and groups.

Advanced Fluid Mechanics Research Group

The Advanced Fluid Mechanics (AFM) Research Group is an interdisciplinary team based in the Faculty of Engineering Science. The group's mandate is to further fundamental and applied research in the general area of fluid and thermal sciences, to promote technology transfer with industry and to provide training for highly qualified personnel.

The fundamental and applied research profile concentrates in the areas of turbulence, bluff body (industrial) aerodynamics, environmental sciences, heat transfer, biomedical flows, single and multi-phase systems. The industrial activities of AFM include the automotive sector, heat exchangers, food manufacturing and processing, electronic cooling, sensor design, particle separators (active filters), turbo-machinery and pipe networks. The group is involved in the transfer of new technologies as well as the training of technical personnel and engineers.

Concurrent Engineering and Agile Manufacturing Research Laboratory

Agile manufacturing integrates people, technology and organization to achieve an interdisciplinary, collaborative approach to the entire product development cycle. Effective cross-functional concurrent engineering teams supported by information technology are a key to agile manufacturing competitiveness.

The mission of the Concurrent Engineering and Agile Manufacturing Research Laboratory is:

• To pursue leading edge applied research to identify, develop and apply tools and technologies to support world-class Canadian manufacturing in the 21st century.
• To develop and implement innovative approaches to engineering education to prepare students for successful careers in the new economy, and to provide Canadian companies with the skilled engineers they need to thrive in the global marketplace.

Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel Laboratory

Roughly two-thirds of the world's 40 tallest buildings have been studied at Western's Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel Laboratory including Library Square in Vancouver, the Sears Building in Chicago and the World Trade Centre in New York. Founded by Dr. Allen G. Davenport in 1965, the laboratory's mission is to conduct innovative research in wind engineering and related disciplines which demonstrates leadership and excellence, and responds effectively to industry's needs and enhances their capabilities. The lab has recreated miniature cities and appropriate wind conditions for every single area, including Hong Kong, where turbulent typhoon winds put every building to the test.

Mechatronics Research Laboratory

The Mechatronics Research Laboratory at Western promotes and supports interdisciplinary research in advanced design of intelligent products and processes. The laboratory conducts research to achieve optimum performance of the electromechanical subsystems by effectively integrating the domain and design knowledge from three overlapping, but clearly distinct engineering disciplines: Mechanical, Electronic and Computing. The Laboratory currently conducts research with the National Research Council of Canada.

National Sciences and Engineering Research Council - General Motors of Canada Chair in Engineering Design and Innovation

This unique program is designed to prepare engineering graduates to fill Canada's industrial innovation gap. A more holistic approach to design program will be introduced to engineering students to address the need for innovation in a way that builds on the practical combination of knowledge, analysis and experimentation (engineering science) with creativity, imagination and inventiveness (engineering design). Graduates will be able to develop design innovations to improve cost-effective products, processes and technologies that meet commercial needs.

Research and Development Tax Benefits

Canada has a system of tax incentives for Scientific Research and Experimental Development. These are considered to be the most generous for G8 member countries. The Ontario and Canadian governments recognize the importance of manufacturing to Ontario's economy and have introduced several research and development incentives to support manufacturers. A brief summary of these tax incentives is discussed below

• Ontario Innovation Tax Credit (OITC)
  Canadian controlled private corporations with a permanent establishment in Ontario can receive a tax credit calculated at 10% of qualifying expenditures on research and development carried out in Ontario.
• Ontario Business-Research Institute Tax Credit (OBRITC)
  Ontario introduced a 20% refundable Ontario Business Research Institute tax credit for research and development expenditures incurred in Ontario as part of an eligible research institute contract. Ontario Research and Development Super Allowance The level of credit varies from 25% to 52.5% of research and development expenditure depending on the ownership structure and profitability of the business.
• Ontario New Technology Tax Incentive (ONTTI)
  ONTTI provides an immediate 100% income tax deduction of the cost of eligible intellectual property, acquired by a corporation from an unrelated person, for the purpose of implementation in a business of the corporation that is carried on in Ontario.
• Retail Sales Tax Exemption
  Equipment used exclusively for R&D, or for a combination of manufacturing and R&D, or primarily for manufacturing is exempt from retail sales tax.
• Capital Tax Exemption
  Companies can immediately deduct all R&D expenditures, including intellectual property expenditures, for capital tax purposes.
• Federal Deductions and Credits
  Federal tax rules allow a 100% deduction for current R&D expenditures and for capital expenditures on R&D machinery and equipment. In addition, federal tax rules provide a 20% credit on qualifying current and capital expenditures.

The London Economic Development Corporation will provide further details of these programs on request (661-4545).