Tech company wins development grant for video chips.
Sally Daub, CEO of ViXS Systems, INC., takes Sandra Pupatello, Minister of Economic Development and Trade, and David Zimmer, MPP Willowdale, on a tour of the ViXS lab Thursday.
Staff photo/DAN PEARCE
A North York technology company has received a $6.15-million provincial government grant to help develop next generation video chips.
The grant, which was announced at the headquarters of ViXS Systems Inc. Thursday, Jan. 20, will go towards funding 44 new positions to develop XCode 4000 and XCode 5000 chips, along with supporting 96 current positions.
In addition to the grant, the company will put forward $34.82 million of its own funds towards the $40.97-million project.
The chips will take about 18 months to develop.
"We can't do well as a province if we aren't doing well in our industries," Minister of Economic Development and Trade Sandra Pupatello said during the announcement near Leslie Street and Sheppard Avenue.
According to its website, ViXS Systems Inc. is a multimedia solutions innovator providing technologies for processing, managing, securing and distributing high quality video and audio allowing seamless multimedia control, conversion, and connectivity between digital entertainment devices.
ViXS supplies advanced system-on-a-chip semiconductors, software solutions and hardware reference designs for the world's top manufacturers of digital televisions, DVDs, set-top boxes, personal video recorders, home computers and Blu-Ray players/recorders.
Along with the North York location, the company operates offices throughout North America, Asia and Europe and holds more than 70 patents.
ViXS was named one of the 50 fastest-growing technology companies in North America in the 2009 Deloitte Technology's Fast 500 ranking.