SARSAT Wins Technology Transfer Award

On June 2, at a gala luncheon held in Ottawa, SARSAT (Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking) team members from CRC, Canadian Space Agency, EMS Satcom, National Search and Rescue Secretariat, and National Defence were honoured with a Federal Partners in Technology Transfer Award (FPTT) by the Government of Canada. The award recognizes excellence in the development, transfer and commercialization of significant technologies.

SARSAT was initially developed by the CRC in the mid-1970s, but the network now encompasses over 38 countries and has resulted in sales revenues to Canadian companies of $100M in the past 25 years. SARSAT is credited with the rescue of over 22,000 people since 1982. Of special note, said the award's judges, was the work of CRC's Jim King who, despite the hostility and mistrust of the Cold War era, was able to broker a collaborative agreement with the Russian Space Agency in 1979.

Innovation Centre Welcomes New Clients

The Communications Research Centre has welcomed two new clients to its Innovation Centre. On October 15, CRC signed an agreement with Ottawa-based Forsetic Semiconductor, a well-established designer of RF (radio frequency) chips for major clients across North America. Forsetic will be working with CRC's Integrated Electronics Research Group to develop their own proprietary RF chip.

Polynate, an Ottawa start-up, will be specializing in standards-based objective testing of telecom products and technologies. Through CRC's Broadband Applications and Demonstration Laboratory (BADLAB), Polynate will acquire access to CRC's unique live research network for use in testing and development, including the possibility of extending testing to include the CANARIE network, optical regional networks (ORANs) and connected, remote institutions. The agreement was signed on November 1.

For information on CRC's Innovation Centre contact Kevin Shackell, Manager, Technology Commercialization, at 613-998-0138 or kevin.shackell@crc.ca.

Mexico Chooses CRC-COVLAB

In the biggest-ever block acquisition of CRC-COVLAB technology, the Government of Mexico has purchased 10 licenses for the software in a deal that includes training of Mexican specialists in the use of the technology. CRC-COVLAB gives the Mexican government the most powerful tool available to model and predict broadcast coverage and interference in the face of new and impending broadcast technologies, including digital and hybrid systems. With the help of CRC-COVLAB, the Government of Mexico will be able to manage and plan spectrum use to ensure effective and efficient broadcast services now and in the future.

For more information contact René Voyer, Research Manager, Broadcast Technologies, at 613-998-4407 or rene.voyer@crc.ca.