OREANDA-NEWS. December 07, 2012. Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Canadian research organization Mitacs have created a new Visual Analytics (VA) consortium to bring together Canadian academics, research agencies and industry to expand VA technology to aerospace-related markets.

VA allows analysts to rapidly explore and synthesize large, complex sets of data using interactive visual tools in order to obtain new business insights and make more informed decisions.

The Visual Analytics Research and Development Consortium of Canada (VARDEC) will focus on developing and expanding VA to industry sectors such as defense, maintenance and reliability, simulation and training, engineering, and manufacturing.

"This new consortium will provide an outstanding opportunity for Canadian researchers to work alongside top companies like Boeing to develop practical solutions in the field of VA," said Arvind Gupta, CEO and scientific director of Mitacs.

With Mitacs serving a managing role, VARDEC will bring together top organizations and companies to work on specific research programs. The consortium will take advantage of members' existing research and development capabilities, concentrating on applied research that could lead to commercialization of the technology.

"VARDEC members are taking a step forward together, creating a competitive edge in the field of technology innovation," said Susan Colegrove, regional director, Boeing International Strategic Partnerships. "Boeing recognizes the value of collaboration and how, by working with other industry experts, we can develop technology that benefits industries beyond aerospace."

Boeing has previously collaborated with Dalhousie University, Simon Fraser University, the University of British Columbia, and the Vancouver Institute for Visual Analytics on projects for the application of VA technology in aviation safety and operational efficiency.

VARDEC is in line with Canada’s Industrial & Regional Benefits (IRB) policy. Canada's IRB policy requires prime contractors such as Boeing to make investments in the Canadian economy as a result of winning defense and security contracts with the government of Canada. Boeing has four active IRB programs tied to the purchase and sustainment of four C-17 airlifters, designated CC-177 for Canadian Forces; the procurement of ScanEagle unmanned aircraft systems services; and the purchase of 15 CH-47F Chinook medium-to-heavy-lift rotorcraft, designated CH-147 for Canadian Forces.