The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology) announced that Leapfrog Lighting will receive up to $150,000 through the National Research Council of Canada’s Industrial Research Assistance Program.
Leapfrog Lighting's goal is to improve LED lighting technologies with a special focus on quality of light. Leapfrog Lighting’s CEO, Stephen Naor, explained that the two obstacles to mainstream adoption of LED lighting are “quality of light and economic value proposition.” The new LED technology, based on advanced optical and thermal designs, is engineered to remove both barriers to adoption of energy-efficient LED light bulbs.
“Leapfrog Lighting develops and markets advanced LED light bulbs with an optical and thermal design that provides measurable improvements in the lighting quality required by facility managers, architects and retailers,” explained a Canadian Federal Government news release. Leapfrog’s light bulbs exhibit improved glare control, light distribution and colour consistency over existing LED technologies.
The worldwide market for LED bulbs is projected to grow to $107 billion US annually within three years as new technologies improve light quality and price point. Leapfrog’s made-in-Canada solution will save up to ten times the power usage of traditional incandescent bulbs, and will sell for less than current LED bulbs.
“At Leapfrog, we see a future where every home and business adopts LED lighting,” said Mr. Naor. “In this future, we see a made-in-Canada solution that removes the barriers to LED lighting adoption by the mainstream.”
Leapfrog Lighting’s new LED bulbs will be specified, designed and manufactured in Canada, partially funded by the involvement of IRAP, through the Ministry of Industry, and also through the Government of Ontario’s Innovation Demonstration Fund, said Mr. Naor.
The investment is part of an initiative from the National Research Council’s Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) to help small- to mid-sized enterprises commercialize quickly. IRAP assists Canadian corporations with R&D and commercialization support for new products and processes designed to access new markets.
The Canada Economic Action Plan 2013 makes $20 million available over three years for a pilot program delivered through IRAP, focused on assisting small to mid-sized companies commercialize more quickly. Separately, the Canadian Economic Action Plan 2012 makes $500 million available in venture capital, with $110 million allocated to NRC each year to expand IRAP’s reach and services
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