Agfa-Gavaert receives €18.5 Canadian grant

Belgian imaging technology group Agfa-Gevaert says it has received a grant of €18.5 ($29.6m Canadian) from the Ontario government to aid the company’s Canadian R&D operations in Toronto and Waterloo (Canada).

The grant will support a total of nearly €125m ($200m Canadian) investment by Agfa HealthCare in its Ontario operations, creating 100 new positions and re-investing in 276 existing jobs.

The total investment is designed to centralise and streamline the company’s R&D and regional operations, which will serve both North American and global requirements.

The 100 new jobs created at Agfa HealthCare will include software development and support. In total Agfa HealthCare will employ nearly 400 people in Ontario, focusing on the development, implementation and support of the company’s e-health, Regional Health and Digital Imaging Solutions.

The company’s Waterloo, Canada, office will be strengthed as one of Agfa’s primary R&D facilities, developing the company’s leading Picture Archiving and Communication Systems, called IMPAX and other advanced health software solutions.

Partnering with businesses to generate investment and create jobs is a component of the Ontario government’s five-point plan to grow the economy and will be provided from the Next Generation of Jobs Fund.

"We’re proud to support Agfa HealthCare’s investment in their Ontario operations and workforce. We have a skilled and educated workforce, a culture of innovation, and a competitive business environment," said Ontario’s Premier, Dalton McGuinty.

Michael Bryant, Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development said "We’re proud to work with innovative companies that come to the table with their own growth plans and resources. Agfa HealthCare’s new technology represents a step forward in the development of e-health, providing an Ontario solution to a global need and a shot in the arm to the local economy."

Agfa HealthCare, a member of the Agfa-Gevaert Group, is a leading provider of IT-enabled clinical workflow and diagnostic image management solutions, and state-of-the-art systems for capturing and processing images in hospitals and healthcare facilities.

“The support from the McGuinty government allows us to accelerate our growth plans and bring our new technology to market, as well as anchoring our investment here in Ontario," concludes Michael Green, vice president North America Region, Agfa HealthCare.