OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 3, 2024 /CNW/ – As Canada continues to move toward a low-carbon economy, many forms of clean energy are needed to power the growing demand for affordable and reliable electricity. These include nuclear energy, which is non-emitting, consistent and safe.

Today, Julie Dabrusin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced funding of $13.6 million from National Resources Canada’s Enabling Small Modular Reactors (SMR) Program for nine research projects to promote the safe, commercial development of SMRs to contribute to our low-carbon economy and help fight climate change. The projects are:

$935,542 to Queen‘s University in Kingston, Ontario, to study fuel dry storage and to conduct a techno-gap / life-cycle assessment to enable the effective deployment of SMRs.

$2,131,000 to Chemetics in Pickering, Ontario, to support the research and development of SMR fabrication. This project will enable Chemetics to develop, test and qualify new fabrication technologies for SMR components.

$2,750,000 to Prodigy Clean Energy Ltd in Montreal, Quebec, to support research and development to enable transportable nuclear power plants as part of the SMR supply chain.

$3,750,000 to the Nuclear Waste Management Organization in Toronto, Ontario, to enhance the compatibility of the NWMO’s current Adaptive Phased Management program with the upcoming deployment of SMRs.

$261,535 to Calian Ltd. in Ottawa, Ontario, to provide a guidance document to SMR vendors and planned owners or operators in Canada that outlines the characterization of radiological elements in building materials for the construction of new SMR facilities.

$543,000 to the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries in Pickering, Ontario, to develop a National Ready4SMR program to identify procurement risks due to technological gaps in Canada’s SMR projects and subsequently develop supply strategies for at-risk parts and components.

$126,475 to Kinectrics in Etobicoke, Ontario, to investigate the feasibility of disposing the isotope carbon-14 by recovering it from radioactive wastes and to engage with stakeholders to identify a route to divert waste streams from disposal.

$2,070,336 to North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council in Eel Ground, New Brunswick, to study and develop robust supply chains in Canada for SMR manufacturing while anchoring elements in New Brunswick with First Nations ownership.

$1,094,850 to Opportunities New Brunswick in Fredericton, New Brunswick, to provide a research and development life-cycle framework and roadmap for the manufacturing of cost-effective modularized SMR technology to enhance the development and deployment of SMRs within Canada.

As Canada advances toward a net-zero future, investments like these are key to reducing emissions, maximizing energy performance and industry competitiveness. These investments support workers and industry in building a more prosperous and sustainable future. With over 70,000 hard-working Canadians employed across its supply chain, Canada’s nuclear industry is well positioned to leverage its science and technology innovation to become a leader in the development and deployment of small modular reactor technology.

Quote

“Developing next-generation nuclear technologies, like small modular reactors, will be essential as Canada faces growing energy demands and is called upon to export our clean technologies to partners around the world. Our nuclear sector is poised to be a leader in an emerging global SMR market that some estimate to be worth up to $150 billion a year by 2040.”

Julie Dabrusin
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Quick Facts

Budget 2022 allocated $29.6 million to NRCan over four years for research and development to support the conditions and frameworks necessary for SMRs to displace fossil fuels and contribute to climate change mitigation. NRCan introduced the Enabling Small Modular Reactors Program in 2023 to support the development of supply chains for SMR manufacturing and fuel and to fund research on SMR waste management solutions to ensure that SMRs and the waste they generate can be safely managed, now and into the future.The Enabling SMR Program has announced $3.5 million to date for projects being led by the Canadian Standards Association, the University of Alberta and the University of Regina.

Related Information

Enabling Small Modular Reactors Program(canada.ca)Canada Launches New Small Modular Reactor Funding Program (canada.ca)Canada’s Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Action Plan (smractionplan.ca)

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SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

Annual study offers actionable insights to help companies position to win in 2025.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — GovExec, the leading information services company serving government leaders and contractors, released the 2024 Leading Brands in Government study, at an event packed with industry leaders on September 19 at the Archer Hotel in McLean.

For over a decade GovExec’s Leading Brands effort has been both a tool for government marketers AND a method by which we can highlight those federal brands that have been successful in their marketing and advertising efforts.

“Since it launched ten years ago, Leading Brands has provided the industry a standard against which to measure themselves year over year,” said Tim Hartman, CEO of GovExec. “Leading Brands provides public sector companies with actionable, proven insights to boost their market perception. The study captures the respondent priorities and perceptions of contractors in both the Federal and Defense markets, pulling together a compilation of top trends that provide a roadmap for best practices in public sector marketing.”

GovExec surveyed over 1,000 Federal and Defense decision makers about their perceptions of 58 contractors for the 2024 Leading Brands study. Respondents were asked to consider criteria including brand familiarity and favorability, as well as attributes identified as highly important to government purchasers — expertise, experience, innovation, customization, value, trustworthiness, customer service and social responsibility.

This year, the study found that on average, 83% of respondents have some level of awareness of the companies studied. This number includes individuals who just recognize the name to those who are very familiar with the company. However, of those 83%, on average only 42% are Very Familiar with the company.

“This gap indicates a need for more brand awareness marketing in the public sector overall.” said Aaron Heffron, President, Forecasting and Research at GovExec.

Leading Brands provides a hands-on tool for government contractors to improve their connections with the government community. It helps marketers (whether or not among the companies studied) answer the questions:

Do our marketing and advertising efforts make a difference?What should we do in the coming year to move the needle?How are our competitors doing? Is there an opening or an opportunity for us?In general, How are we doing?

“Insights like this offer actionable touch points where companies can enhance market perception and navigate today’s complex and evolving landscape with the right tools and resources,” said Heffron.

To learn more about purchasing the study to help position your company brand in 2025, contact Caitlyn O’Connor at coconnor@govexec.com.

View the 2024 Leading Brands launch event via on-demand here.

About GovExec:
GovExec’s data and insights set the standard for depth, accuracy, and impact for government leaders and contractors. As the market-leading information and intent-based marketing platform, for over fifty years GovExec has empowered the government ecosystem to engage and support government leaders as they work to achieve their missions across federal, defense, and state and local agencies. Our strategic sales enablement and intent-based marketing solutions accelerate revenue growth to fuel market success. The platform is powered by the largest and most sophisticated database in the public sector, GovExec’s platform reaches 3.3 million government influencers each month and provides its marketing clients with a significant competitive advantage in driving higher conversion and growth.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/govexec-unveils-the-2024-leading-brands-in-government-study-results-302267109.html

SOURCE GovExec

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Media accreditation is open for the next launch to deliver NASA science investigations, supplies, and equipment to the International Space Station. This launch is the 31st SpaceX commercial resupply services mission to the orbital laboratory for the agency and will liftoff on the company’s Falcon 9 rocket.

NASA and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than Wednesday, Oct. 30, to launch the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Credentialing to cover prelaunch and launch activities is open to U.S. media. The application deadline for U.S. citizens is 11:59 p.m. EDT, Tuesday, Oct. 15. All accreditation requests must be submitted online at:

https://media.ksc.nasa.gov

Credentialed media will receive a confirmation email upon approval. NASA’s media accreditation policy is available online. For questions about accreditation, or to request special logistical support, email: ksc-media-accreditat@mail.nasa.gov. For other questions, please contact NASA’s Kennedy Space Center newsroom at: 321-867-2468.

Para obtener información sobre cobertura en español en el Centro Espacial Kennedy o si desea solicitor entrevistas en español, comuníquese con Antonia Jaramillo o Messod Bendayan a: antonia.jaramillobotero@nasa.gov o messod.c.bendayan@nasa.gov.

Each resupply mission to the station delivers scientific investigations in the areas of biology and biotechnology, Earth and space science, physical sciences, and technology development and demonstrations. Cargo resupply from U.S. companies ensures a national capability to deliver scientific research to the space station, significantly increasing NASA’s ability to conduct new investigations aboard humanity’s laboratory in space.

In addition to food, supplies, and equipment for the crew, Dragon will deliver several new experiments, including the Coronal Diagnostic Experiment, to examine solar wind and how it forms. Dragon also delivers Antarctic moss to observe the combined effects of cosmic radiation and microgravity on plants. Other investigations aboard include a device to test cold welding of metals in microgravity, and an investigation that studies how space impacts different materials.

Crews have occupied the space station continuously since November 2000. In that time, 280 people from 23 countries have visited the orbital outpost. The space station is a springboard to NASA’s next great leap in exploration, including future missions to the Moon under Artemis, and ultimately, human exploration of Mars.

Learn more about NASA’s commercial resupply missions at:

https://www.nasa.gov/station

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-invites-media-to-spacexs-31st-resupply-launch-to-space-station-302267112.html

SOURCE NASA