Vortek Industries Ltd, Vancouver, has received $3.9 million in assistance from Technology Partnerships Canada (TPC) for an R&D project relating to its impulse anneal rapid thermal (iRTP) processing technology. The technology is an advancement in the thermal annealing process used in the manufacture of semiconductor computer chips. The iRTP system subjects silicon wafers to a brief, intense burst of heat and is considered to be a major breakthrough with 10 years of market potential. The TPC funding will create or maintain more than 170 jobs. Vortek is a 20-year-old spin-off from the Univ of British Columbia and is considered a leader in the development of arc lamps and related optical systems. FMI: www.vortek.com....