IROQUOIS, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 07/06/09 -- Mr. Guy Lauzon, Member of Parliament for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry, on behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), today recognized Iroquois-based Ross Video Limited as a Canadian Innovation Leader for developing a wide range of innovative products for use in broadcast, distribution, live event and production applications, linking research to commercialization, jobs and economic growth.

"The Government of Canada believes that investments in science and technology are investments in Canada's future," said Mr. Lauzon. "Our ideas, innovation and inventiveness ensure our long-term economic competitiveness. Today, I am proud to recognize Ross Video, a successful Canadian firm, as a Canadian Innovation Leader."

Founded in 1974, Ross Video Limited continues to focus on the design, marketing, manufacturing and support of a wide range of innovative products for use in broadcast, distribution, live events and production applications. Ross Video made the transition from Standard Definition (SD) to High Definition (HD) easier for broadcasters through the development of multi-definition video production switchers.

A Canadian Innovation Leader is a small- or medium-sized enterprise (SME) that demonstrates specific advances in research and development within its industrial sector. The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) created the Canadian Innovation Leader Certificate Program to recognize Canadian firms that have successfully developed and applied innovative technologies.

"Investing in science and technology is critical for developing highly skilled people and improving the long-term competitiveness of Canadian firms," said NRC President Dr. Pierre Coulombe. "That's why the NRC Industrial Research Assistance program (NRC-IRAP) is helping innovative Canadian businesses like Ross Video Limited grow stronger, faster and bigger."

"The switchover to High Definition television production is now in full swing and Ross Video is positioned perfectly both technologically and in the marketplace to take advantage of this," said David Ross, CEO of Ross Video. "The support that NRC-IRAP has given our team enabled the development of innovative and world-class solutions to a customer base that fully recognizes the value that we offer. Even better, Ross Video does all of its R&D and manufacturing in house and this serves to maximize NRC-IRAP's contribution in Canadian jobs."

About NRC and NRC-IRAP

The NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) provides a range of both technical and business-oriented advisory services along with necessary financial support to qualified innovative Canadian small- and medium-sized enterprises.

The program is delivered by a field staff of 240 professionals in more than 100 communities across Canada. NRC-IRAP is committed to working with small and medium-sized enterprises while they realize their full potential, turning knowledge and innovation into strategic opportunities, jobs and prosperity for all Canadians.

The Government of Canada's Economic Action Plan has provided new resources of $200 million over the next two years to bolster NRC-IRAP support for innovative Canadian firms. To learn more about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

For more information (media only), please visit NRC-IRAP's Web site http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/irap.html.