The Village of Foremost is pleased to confirm $1.26M of financial support from PrairiesCan (Press Release here) to establish the BVLOS Innovation Centre (BVLOS InC) at the Foremost UAS Test Range. The announced funding confirms the value of the BVLOS Innovation Centre’s focus on the promotion of a cohesive set of capabilities to better serve the RPAS (drone) sector’s transition to Beyond Visual Line of Site (BVLOS) operations and to seize the significant opportunities offered by an RPAS sector economy.

PrairiesCan has made previous strategic investments to improve infrastructure and establish flight test protocols at the Foremost UAS Test Range. This additional funding builds on previous investments by developing test and validation capabilities at the BVLOS Innovation Centre. The Honourable Daniel Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency stated at the announcement “Our government is supporting Alberta’s small- and medium-sized businesses as they develop new and emerging technologies to create a cleaner, safer tomorrow. Today’s investments will help grow and strengthen leading-edge Alberta firms—enabling them to bring their innovative technologies and applications to market, benefitting our environment and creating new, high-quality, jobs for Albertans.”

Doug Hanna, Founder and CEO of the newly minted BVLOS Innovation Centre acknowledged the support of both PrairiesCan and the Village of Foremost in advancing BVLOS and explained the significance of this investment. “We appreciate the continued support of PrairiesCan in helping us fulfill our mission. The BVLOS Innovation Centre is focussed on raising awareness of the benefits of RPAS in the Canadian economy, and the underlying need to ensure safety through airworthiness principles and practices. Today’s announcement will permit us to advance and accelerate our efforts to grow the RPAS ecosystem in Canada.”

For more information or media inquiries, please contact:
Doug Hanna (801) 850-8500
Doug.Hanna@BVLOSInC.com