BACKGROUNDER

January 7, 2008

INSTITUTE FOR DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING RESEARCH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR: TAPPING INTO A $21 BILLION GLOBAL MARKET

Ontario’s $5-million investment in the Institute for Diagnostic Imaging Research at the University of Windsor is part of the McGuinty government's strategy to support innovation in areas where Ontario has a competitive advantage to compete — and win — in the global marketplace. These are the sectors that will generate Ontario’s next generation of good-paying, value-added jobs, and ensure a high quality of life for all Ontarians now and well into the future.

Acoustical Imaging

The Institute for Diagnostic Imaging Research will bring together researchers and industry to develop and commercialize acoustical imaging technologies and processes. Acoustical imaging uses sound to peer into objects without damaging them. Potential applications include:

• Industry and manufacturing: Non-destructive testing systems for quality assurance in sectors such as automotive, aircraft, energy and agriculture. Global market: more than $1 billion.
• Medical diagnostics: Non-intrusive imaging systems for use in hospitals and clinics. Global market: more than $10 billion.
• Security: More effective non-intrusive biometric identification systems. Global market: more than $10 billion.

The Institute

The Institute for Diagnostic Imaging Research will bring together researchers from across Ontario and industry to develop new technologies and move them to market quickly. It will operate as a distributed research consortium, meaning that researchers from across Ontario will participate through their own faculties, but also come together at the institute to take advantage of its specialized facilities. 

Ontario's $5 million contribution will help support the purchase of new equipment to enable the institute’s specialized research, and the training of highly skilled new graduate students and researchers — the people who will build Ontario’s next generation of innovative products and companies.

Researchers will partner with industry to ensure technologies developed have significant commercial potential.

Founding Director

The institute’s founding director will be one of Ontario’s most renowned researchers, Dr. Roman Maev. During his five-year term, Dr. Maev will establish the institute and make it operational.

Dr. Maev is well positioned to make this institute a success. He is a leader in the field of acoustic microscopy and has successfully developed a better way for Chrysler to check the quality control of the more than 4,000 spot welds typically used in a modern car.

Dr. Maev has already spun-off a company to commercialize this technology — Tessonics. See www.tessonics.com.

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