Headquarters
Toronto, Ontario

COO & interim CEO
Loretta Renard

Board chair
Brad Jackson

Strengthening an electronics manufacturing ecosystem for Canada

The opportunity

Global industry restructuring has shifted manufacturing to lower-cost countries and increasingly outsourced its supply chain, from design and manufacturing to packaging and distribution. Canada’s electronics sector in particular is underperforming and risks becoming further marginalized. While innovation is critical for driving success, it can take a decade to develop, deploy and implement new products and services. Most Canadian companies lack the resources and/or the skills needed to take new ideas through all the stages of commercialization. An industry-led consortium is changing that, by strengthening linkages between industry, academia and government to move ideas to market faster, while maintaining research, design and product manufacturing domestically.

How REMAP is seizing the opportunity

In a world of start-ups, software applications, and disruptive technologies, REMAP incorporates a strategy for Canadian businesses to navigate the digital economy, accelerate growth and improve ease of doing business in the adoption of Smart Manufacturing. REMAP is a technology accelerator that connects the strengths of manufacturing with the innovation ecosystem to build capacity and global competitiveness in Canada. Through shared resources, REMAP creates IP for Canadian business growth, accelerates export-ready products, optimizes manufacturing processes and prepares our workforce for a more sustainable and inclusive future.

Among the results

• Striving to translate Canada’s investment in electronics technology into economic growth and job creation, the REMAP network has commercialized 241 new products, processes and services, developed 402 prototypes, 153patents have been filed/issued and 354 technical publications have been authored across the Healthtech, Cleantech, Industrial, Telecom, ITand Mobility market segments.
• Together, the network contributed more than 32,000 mentoring hours, giving back to the community by providing work-integrated learning opportunities to high schools, colleges and universities, start-ups and SME manufacturers. The network created/maintained 902 Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) jobs that generate approximately 14,432 workforce multiplier jobs that support the manufacturing industry. These efforts have attracted $248 million of combined follow-on investments (Foreign Direct Investments) and revenues since 2014.
• Successful REMAP-funded projects include:
  • Robotic-Assisted Advanced Measurement for Smart Factories: TeTechS has introduced a robotic-assisted technology to improve the measurement and quality assurance process of manufactured plastics on the factory floor. This innovative technology accurately measures plastic thickness– reducing resin overuse and manual labour while increasing quality and repeatability. Having collaborated with the University of Waterloo to fully develop its core sensor, and packaging leader Amcor to fully develop and validate the technology for production, today, the commercialized technology is in use across a number of companies in Canada and internationally.
  • Metals Infused Wearable Tech: A pioneer in advanced material science and nanotechnology coatings, Microbonds’ Thermo-Plating™ technology is well poised to disrupt the rapidly growing wearable tech and wellness markets. Their unique solution allows highly engineered organo-metallic liquid chemical compounds to bond directly to a wide range of surfaces, including fabric. Through the REMAP project, Microbonds was ableto develop, and scale their innovative solution to enter growth and niche markets – partnering with electronics manufacturing services provider Celestica for R&D support and Canadian textile factories to accelerate commercialization.
  • Open Architecture Surgical Innovation Suite (OASIS): The OASIS project aims to bring about the operating room of the future. Led by Northern Vascular Systems in collaboration with Western University and London Health Sciences Centre, this project team is integrating current and emerging technologies to provide clinicians with optimal data and access to new therapeutic options that can ultimately improve patient outcomes. To achieve this, they are building a disciplined and systematic method of testing, refining and implementing new technologies aimed at streamlining OR workflow and reducing the potential for information overload.

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