President and CEO named to the helm of Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures

April 20, 2010

EDMONTON, AB – Dr. Gary Albach, Director of Alberta’s progressive, commercialization hub for advanced technologies, nanoAlberta, has been named President and CEO of Alberta Innovates - Technology Futures, the new provincial corporation launched in January to consolidate support for Alberta’s growing next generation economy.

As the President of this new service agency that will provide even stronger support for R&D in Alberta, Albach’s long list of accomplishments will strengthen the new corporation which is built on the foundation of the former Alberta Research Council, Alberta Ingenuity Fund, iCORE and nanoAlberta programs. Albach’s portfolio includes several international partnerships he brought to Alberta through his work with nanoAlberta, including the Smalley Institute at Rice University in Texas, and with Hitachi Electron Microscopy Products Development Centre and the Edmonton-based National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT). These latest partnerships are just part of a 30-year-career which has included hi-tech company start-ups, technology commercialization program development and leadership roles in policy and economic development in British Columbia.

Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures is one of four provincial corporations in the Alberta Innovates system, developed by Doug Horner’s Advanced Education and Technology ministry to streamline Alberta’s research and industry collaborations. The group of corporations will direct the expertise of 600 employees staff in five locations throughout the province to create pan-Alberta partnerships in emerging market sectors. Along with the corporations focused on energy and environment and bio technology, Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures will be aimed squarely on applying Alberta’s strong portfolio of scientific research to the development of new products and companies to fuel a more vigorous and diverse economy in the province.

Through Alberta Innovates, the Alberta government is making it easier for researchers, innovators and investors to work together to create new opportunities, new solutions and new sectors that will drive the province’s next generation economy. For more information on Alberta Innovates visit: albertainnovates.ca.

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Backgrounder

About Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures:

Alberta Innovates - Technology Futures helps technical industries find solutions, develop products and move technologies to market. It's building on Alberta's already established advantage in platform technologies - like nanotechnology, information communications technologies, and genomics - to enhance the technical capacity within Alberta's high-tech companies. It's facilitating access to the strengths of our key partners that help support commercialization and grow new ventures. It's investing in and attracting research and entrepreneurial talent who can support these priorities.

Biography, Dr. Gary Albach:

Commercialization:

Founder of the first official spin-off company at the University of British Columbia (UBC) 30 years ago - a private semiconductor equipment manufacturer acquired by its United States partner in 2004

Co-founder of a group of international high technology companies, including : Vortek Industries Ltd (1976), TIR Systems Inc. (1982), Cogent ChipWare Inc. (2000)

Entrepreneur-in-Residence at UBC and CEO of Northwest Mettech Corp, specializing in industrial ceramic coatings.

UBC New Ventures Program (2004-2006)

Policy:

Advisor for the International Good NanoGuide Implementation Committee (ICON) to guide  Alberta’s leadership in developing Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) standards for nano materials industries

Past director and chair of the Commercialization Group of the British Columbia Technical Industries Association, Director of the Electronic Manufacturer’s Association of B.C.and Advisory Board member for the National Research Council's Industrial Research Development Program (IRAP)

Education:

B.Sc. (Hon) from the University of Waterloo, PhD in physics from The University of British Columbia, and an Industrial Post Doctoral Fellowship (Entrepreneurship) Anatek Electronics Ltd.

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