CHAT News File Photo

By Chris Brown

From Alberta Innovates

Funding will help APEX grow drone sector locally and province-wide

May 13, 2022 | 4:04 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – APEX officials are flying high after a recent funding investment of nearly $1.2 million.

Tracy Stroud, APEX regional innovation network manager for southeastern Alberta, says part of that money from Alberta Innovates is earmarked for remote piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), commonly known as drones.

It’s a sector Stroud says is growing fast, with a 17 per cent expected growth rate over the next five years, and she says our corner of the province is in a unique position.

“So we have the Foremost Unmanned Aerial Systems range and they’re able to do training that is unique to these assets,” she explains. “But there’s also other things happening across the province and so with these dollars that we’ve received, we’re going to be able to support that industry. So we’re creating a roadmap of how to grow the RPAS space in Alberta and also how we can potentially become a tech innovation hub for that sector.”

IN THE COMMUNITY

'Compassionate Friends' offer peer support for bereaved in Medicine Hat

5h ago

POSTAL STRIKE

Donations to Medicine Hat non-profits drop over Canada Post strike

5h ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Adopt-A-Rink program still seeking volunteers

14h ago

The remainder of the funding will allow APEX to provide training supports for tech and knowledge-based companies in the area.

APEX helps make connections and provides supports to entrepreneurs from start-up stage to exporting and commercializing their product worldwide. Stroud says they often connect with companies and people that are doing unique and novel things but don’t know how to take the next step.

“Often in the rural areas they don’t think of themselves that way. They just think, ‘Oh I’ve got this problem and I solved it,'” she says. “But then there’s a commercial application to that. So we help companies in all sectors.”

She says Kinetisense, T.R.A.D. Worm Industries and TruMe Whole Health are just three examples of local success stories.

Kinestisense’s software is now is in 12 different countries and eight different languages.

Stroud says, “In the early days it’s my understanding that they were told you’ll have to go to Silicon Valley’ but they have shown that you can do that right here from Alberta and from Medicine Hat.”