Formi3DP, a 3D printing company based in London, Ontario, has received a $150,000 investment from the federal government, as part of the Innovative Solutions Canada program.
“We’re looking to improve wireless connectivity…and reduce Wi-Fi connectivity issues.”
The funding will go towards research and development for a way to incorporate frequency-selective engineered surfaces in the development of new building materials, design tools, and connected vehicles. Formi3DP is working towards a solution to address issues of interference with Wi-Fi and radio frequencies that are associated with the design of this technology.
Groupe Graham, a human-machine interface tech company based in Lachine, is also receiving $150,000 in government funding. The two companies are competing in an Innovative Solutions Canada challenge to address the Wi-Fi and radio frequencies interference issues.
Both companies will use this initial investment to develop their own solutions. If the proposed concepts are selected to move onto the prototyping stage, the companies could receive up to $1 million over two years to refine their solutions.
This investment is a part of Innovative Solutions Canada, a government program that encourages small businesses to develop solutions to government challenges. The announcement was made today by Navdeep Bains, minister of innovation, science, and economic development, with Mary Ng, minister of small business and export promotion.
“We’re turning to Canadians for their best ideas to solve government challenges,” said Bains. “With this challenge, we’re looking to improve wireless connectivity in connected vehicles and reduce Wi-Fi connectivity issues.”
Last December, three 3D development startups received over $400,000 in total, as a part of the Innovative Solutions Canada program.
The program encourages applications from business owners led by women, Indigenous people, and minority groups. It was first announced in Budget 2017 and is funded by 20 government departments and agencies, which represents an annual $100 million investment over the course of five years. Innovative Solutions Canada is also part of the government’s Innovation and Skills Plan.