Canadian government awards funds to Genia Photonics and Photon etc.

Two photonics firms in Quebec, Genia Photonics and Photon etc., have has been awarded financial assistance. Genia will receive $300,000 in repayable funding and Photon etc. will get $500,000 in repayable funding.

Conard Holton

May 15, 2012

2 min read

Montreal, Canada--Two photonics firms in Quebec, Genia Photonics and Photon etc., have has been awarded financial assistance through the Canada Economic Development's Business and Regional Growth program. Genia will receive $300,000 in repayable funding and Photon etc. will get $500,000 in repayable funding.

The funding, announced by Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, will enable Genia Photonics to acquire state-of-the-art production equipment and laboratory materials. The directors of Genia estimate that this funding could result in the creation of 22 jobs by the year 2014.

Genia Photonics is a start-up company that designs, develops, and manufactures pulse programmable and multifunctional fiber-based lasers. The new production equipment will enable the company to meet growing demand; new laboratory facilities will help accelerate the R&D work underway in the last two years.

The funds for Photon etc. will enable the company to expand into new markets. Photon etc. specializes in the development of optic and photonic analysis products. The company's project involves marketing the industrial version of its hyperspectral analysis systems to advanced materials developers and manufacturers. These turnkey systems serve in the manufacture and quality control of products such as LEDs and solar cells.

About the Author

Conard Holton

Conard Holton has 25 years of science and technology editing and writing experience. He was formerly a staff member and consultant for government agencies such as the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the International Atomic Energy Agency, and engineering companies such as Bechtel. He joined Laser Focus World in 1997 as senior editor, becoming editor in chief of WDM Solutions, which he founded in 1999. In 2003 he joined Vision Systems Design as editor in chief, while continuing as contributing editor at Laser Focus World. Conard became editor in chief of Laser Focus World in August 2011, a role in which he served through August 2018. He then served as Editor at Large for Laser Focus World and Co-Chair of the Lasers & Photonics Marketplace Seminar from August 2018 through January 2022. He received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, with additional studies at the Colorado School of Mines and Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.