TORONTO, ON: In today’s competitive automotive marketplace, Canadian automotive parts suppliers need to increase their innovative capabilities to gain a competitive advantage. To help companies meet this need, Canada’s leading automotive organizations have partnered to host an international three-day event. The Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association (APMA) and the AUTO21 Network of Centres of Excellence have developed an exciting program that is designed to link automotive parts suppliers with leading Canadian researchers.

As Canada’s national automotive R&D program, AUTO21’s team of over 300 researchers has worked with over 200 automotive companies to develop and commercialize leading automotive technologies. The joint conference between AUTO21 and the APMA will focus on how supplier companies can access the Canadian research community and the areas of technology that will provide the best opportunities for future success. Conference sessions place a strong emphasis on new powertrain and manufacturing technologies. As environmental issues and consumer demands evolve, advanced technologies, research and development will be critical for future vehicle advancements, and automotive parts suppliers will play pivotal roles in their design and manufacture.

“Our industry is evolving at lightning speed with competition coming from all corners of the globe,” says Gerry Fedchun, President, APMA. “The APMA partnership with AUTO21 for its 2009 Annual Conference is intended to lead Canadian suppliers to embrace and engage Canada’s research communities to help develop and design the leading edge products and processes that will carry the industry forward as the global economy revives.”

“The Canadian automotive landscape is changing,” says Dr. Peter Frise, Scientific Director and CEO of AUTO21. “The sector faces numerous challenges but also unprecedented opportunity as the market shifts to new technologies. AUTO21 researchers are already helping hundreds of companies prepare for these new technologies, but there are many other firms that could benefit from such partnerships to ensure they leverage these opportunities.”

The conference will take place May 26-28, 2009 at the Hamilton Convention Centre in Hamilton, Ontario. More than 800 members of Canada’s automotive component supply industry and research community are expected to attend. Full conference information is available at www.apma.ca.

APMA is Canada’s national association representing original equipment automotive suppliers. APMA’s members account for approximately 90% of Canada’s $24.3 billion industry (2008) and employ over 80,000 workers. APMA’s fundamental objective is to promote and support the automotive original equipment supply industry both domestically and internationally. The Association creates and executes global marketing initiatives in order to develop international trade and business opportunities for the membership and also provides important representation to both the Federal and Provincial governments. APMA is the Voice of the automotive original equipment suppliers in Canada.

The AUTO21 Network of Centres of Excellence currently supports more than 300 researchers and more than 400 students working on 54 auto-related R&D projects at 44 Canadian universities and institutions. The projects are supported by more than $11 million annually in combined public and private sector funding. Research is conducted in the areas of health, safety and injury prevention; societal issues; materials and manufacturing; design processes; powertrains, fuels and emissions; and intelligent systems and sensors. AUTO21 is supported by the Government of Canada through a Networks of Centres of Excellence program, and its administrative centre is hosted by the University of Windsor.