Host Janet Eastman discusses the Innovation Centre with Marie Lussier, Manager, Innovation Centre.
Date:  January 2007
Duration: 3 minutes 45 seconds
*This transcript is in the original language of the television segment.

Eastman - Marie, what's the role of the CRC Innovation Centre?

Lussier - The CRC Innovation Centre is here to assist small, medium enterprises in developing their technologies and building a stronger economy in Canada.

E - And how long has CRC actually been doing this?

L - We opened our doors in November of 1994 and we've assisted over 40 companies since we started. The role of the incubator is to provide access to technologies, test bed facilities and the expertise of our researchers in house. We learnt early on that we couldn't be experts in all areas so we built a network within the community where we bring in angels, business plan writers, marketing gurus to assist the companies in developing all aspects of their growth.

E - What can this kind of incubation mean for a company?

L - Presently in Canada, two out of three companies do not meet the five year growth pattern whereas business incubator companies have an 87 per cent success rate in Canada. So the chances of succeeding past five years are far greater for companies that have gone through a business incubator.

E - Now when you incubate a company how long are they here for?

L - In our particular case they're here up to three years. We've just gone through a bit of a hiatus where companies were in and out within nine months to 18 months, but we're now seeing because of the downturn in the economy that companies are staying the full three years. But having said that, if a company is in the middle of field trials we will not kick them out, they are here until they are ready to successfully launch themselves in the community.

E - So they have access to the facility, the knowledge of the people that are here at CRC. Are there any financial support that comes from CRC?

L - No we don't personally do that because we're a government department. We don't provide the funding but what we do is again through our networks we've established linkages with angels and VCs and one of the most critical aspects for technology-based incubator is they cannot just be focused on the development of their technology. They have to worry about things like a very strong business plan, a good team to make sure that they get through all the aspects of their growth and then obviously funding.

E - And a company if they're interested in being incubated here can they contact you or do you go looking for them.

L - No I would prefer that companies contact us. They have to be working in the communications field in parallel with one of our research venues here and we see if there's a fit. Generally speaking the majority of clients don't fit with the research because it's such a narrow focus but having said that we have had the 40 companies in the twelve years so it isn't that narrow.

E - Right. Let's talk about some of the successes. Who has been successful being incubated here?

L - Well we've had Spotwave Wireless who is a company that insures that customers get their data and voice within dark areas of the building. We have had SkyWave Mobile. Presently in house one of the clients is GenieView, a client that is dealing with video surveillance which is very appropriate today because of the military applications and the surveillance applications that are necessary in today's world.

E - Marie thanks very much for telling us about them.

L - You're very welcome.