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www.seadiscovery.com Marine Technology Reporter 29 ments. We’re looking at things like remote operation and power supply, and longer deployment functionality for these types of environments. If you want to know if your technology works, come and test it in Canada. We have the R&D infrastructure and expertise to help and you’ll know that if it works off Canadian waters, it’ll work anywhere! We have a great new online map of the Canadian ocean technology sector that can help you find contacts and capabilities. Check it out at http://ocean.cinmaps.ca. Is the Canadian government fostering business alliances with companies/institutions outside of Canada? JR The Government of Canada is fostering international business alliances in the oceans sector. We are also fostering international innovation partnerships or collaborative R&D alliances. The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service places a significant focus on international partnering as a ‘win-win’ way for Canadian companies and their foreign partners to grow. We facilitate relationships based on complimentarity of technolo- gies – whether it’s is for a joint bid on a big project or to advance commercialization of a promising new technology — we see international relationships as key to success and growth. Canada also has bilateral agreements with a number of countries to sup- port technology innovation and collaborative research and development. Various federal departments have such agree- ments. For instance, the Department Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada currently has four bilateral agree- ments – with Brazil, China, India and Israel — where the gov- ernments of the two countries fund collaborative R&D proj- ects. The National Research Council’s Industrial Research Assistance Program also has similar agreements. The Government also has a funding program called Going Global Innovation that helps cover the costs of getting Canadian com- panies and researchers together with international partners to discuss potential R&D collaboration. Companies and researchers outside of Canada interested in partnering with Canadian entrepreeneurs should contact the Government to learn more about the opportunities available to them. Find the nearest embassy or trade office to you at www.tradecommissioner.gc.ca. How has the global economic slowdown affected any of your plans for developing the Subsea business here? JR The Government of Canada is moving ahead with development of a new international strategy for the ocean tech- nology sector. We do see, though, that companies have been impacted by the recent global economic challenges. And differ- ent companies have had different experiences. I know of com- panies that have pulled back and downsized due to a drop in Canadian Company inks a A Royal Deal (L to R: Gerben Klein Baltink (TNO Netherlands), Jim Hanlon (President, Ultra Electronics Maritime Systems), Canadian Ambassador to The Netherlands James Lambert, Vice Admiral Matthieu Borsboom (Chief of Naval Staff, Royal Netherlands Navy), Alan Barker (President, Ultra Canada), Peter Beerens (TNO Netherlands), Ton van Koersal (TNO Netherlands). Ultra Electronics Maritime Systems is a leader in the development and manufacture of advanced undersea surveillance systems. In October 2010, the company entered into an Underwater Defense Cooperation Program with the Netherlands’ Defense Material Organization. This involves support and future development of advanced technologies to meet the Dutch Navy’s needs and builds on a series of projects that Ultra has with the Dutch Navy, including a recent contract award for the devel- opment and delivery of Multi-static Active Passive Sonar (MAPS) systems. The Canadian Embassy in The Netherlands was very support- ive throughout these initiatives. Ultra is partic- ularly recognized for its high power underwater sonar transducers and sophisticated towed array sonar systems. It’s an example of a Canadian company with advanced subsea technology and a track record of continuing innovation. www.ultra-uems.ca (Photo cr edit is Ultra Electr onics Maritime Systems)
