HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA - The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry, today welcomed the news that Lockheed Martin is investing $2 million in Dalhousie University as part of its industrial benefit obligations to Canada. Through this transaction, the company will establish and fund a multidisciplinary program for research into emerging fields of science and technology.

"This investment is further proof that our Canada First defence procurements are generating significant benefits for our industries and scientific community," said Minister Prentice. "It's about new money being injected into the economy, new jobs being created, and new resources being allocated for scientific research and development."

The project is the result of Lockheed Martin's obligations arising from the government's purchase of 17 C-130J Hercules aircraft for the Canadian Forces. Under Canada's industrial benefits policy, the government ensures a dollar-for-dollar return on its investments by requiring contractors to match the contract value with quality economic activities in advanced technology sectors of the Canadian economy. Contractors are free to engage in partnerships that make good business sense to them, thereby enabling them to build long-lasting relationships with companies and academic institutions.

Given the extensive capacity of Canadian industry, businesses and academic institutions across the country are benefiting from these procurements and are likewise expected to benefit further from the government's Canada First commitment, announced on June 29, 2006, to strengthen Canada's multi-role, combat-capable defence force. More projects, each with a guaranteed dollar-for-dollar return on investment, are expected in the future.