By Medicine Hat News, November 5, 2024.

@MedicineHatNews

A Redcliff-based aerospace developer has won a $2.6 million grant from the federal government to complete and commercialize a drone model, as well as money for other initiatives in the developing sector. “The Alpine Swift, UVAD’s all-electric unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), has advanced significantly with the support of this program,” said David Birkett, President and CEO of UVAD Technologies Inc. “The Government support has also allowed southern Alberta to attract the world’s leading experts in the field of drones, and UVAD is strategically positioned to build on this expertise. UVAD has grown exponentially since establishing our facility in Medicine Hat. “Funding… through PrairiesCan and the Regional Aerospace Recovery Initiative is critically important to our efforts to develop and commercialize a world-leading UAV. The Prairies Can grants were announced in Calgary by MP George Chahal, and total $4.3 million which the ministry says will help support 330 small and medium-sized businesses operating in the sector and support approximately 360 jobs. In the same series of announcements, Sturgeon County, near Edmonton, received $500,000 to develop a resource “ecosystem” map for the aerospace and defense sector across the province . The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology will receive $1.4 million to develop an aerospace composite materials laboratory. Other awards went to the Alberta Aviation and Aerospace Council ($100,000) to host conferences for defense contractors in 2025 in Calgary and 2026 in Edmonton, and for Elevate Alberta. ($186,000) to develop a mentoring program. Chahal said the federal government supports a growing industry. “Alberta enjoys a global reputation for excellence in aerospace and aviation thanks to the ingenuity, innovation and hard work of our small and medium-sized businesses, innovators and of our talented workforce,” he said in a release. 12
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