New Calian acquisitions offer VR, training-simulation

OTTAWA – Continuing its aggressive M&A strategy, Calian Group is adding virtual-reality and training-simulation software to its growing list of offerings after acquiring a pair of local tech firms.

Calian – whose products and services include rapid COVID testing and antennas for satellite systems – said it bought affiliated companies SimFront and SimWave in a deal that could be worth up to $15-million if the Kanata-based firms meet their earnings targets.

Despite their relatively small size, Calian CEO Kevin Ford (pictured) said the companies are big players in the growing field of virtual-reality and training-simulation software.

“We’re strengthening our bench of smart people, and these are smart people in that domain,” he told OBJ. “I’m really excited about where this could go.”

SimFront’s software helps customers around the world, including Canada’s Department of National Defence and the U.K. Ministry of Defence, run simulated military training exercises.

Calian has partnered with the company on projects for the Canadian Armed Forces for the past 15 years, and Ford said that familiarity helped seal the deal.

“They were really providing that glue between the simulated (military) environment and our training,” he said. “It’s always nice when you acquire somebody that you’ve worked with and have proven your ability to work with.”

But Ford said the locally engineered VR’s potential extends far beyond the defence industry.

For example, SimWave’s software simulates life-threatening medical situations at Hamilton’s St. Joseph’s Hospital, where it helps prepare staff to respond to potential real-world emergencies.

In addition, Ford sees big upside in the technology’s potential as a broader educational tool.

SimWave’s VR can already be found in the Canadian War Museum, which offers a VR experience that lets visitors feel like they’re advancing with the Canadian assault on Vimy Ridge in 1917, and the Canada Science and Technology Museum, where a virtual locomotive ride lets visitors wearing SimWave’s headsets feel every rumble of the tracks beneath them and smell the scent of burning coal.

“It’s all about bringing more technology and innovation,” Ford explained, adding the firm is also developing platforms to integrate augmented-reality smart glasses such as the Microsoft HoloLens into its training-simulation software.

The acquisition is Calian’s third this year, following deals for antenna systems provider InterTronic Solutions in January and Toronto-based digital healthcare and cybersecurity firm Dapasoft in February.

The firm has closed 10 deals since the start of 2020, and Ford hinted Thursday that he won’t be putting his chequebook away any time soon as he pursues Calian’s stated goal of growing revenues at least 10 per cent annually.

“We’re not slowing down, for sure,” he said. “We have a lot of liquidity.”