Imris Inc. developed some its products from research by the National Research Council. (NRC Archives)

Imris Inc., a company that got a big financial boost from the federal government, is now moving most of its operation south of the border.

Imris, which makes and markets medical imaging devices, is moving its manufacturing, research and development, administration and customer service staff to Minnetonka, Minnesota.

The technology at the core of some products sold by Imris was pioneered by the National Research Council's Institute for Biodiagnostics in Winnipeg.

"We already have marketing, sales and regulatory groups in Minnesota," company CEO David Graves said in a conference call to investors last week.

"By adding the rest of the groups, we will have a single integrated location from which to achieve our goals."

It's not clear just how many staff will be leaving Winnipeg.

In April, 47 scientists and researchers at the NRC Institute for Biodiagnostics on Ellice Avenue received layoff notices.

The NRC institute began with a staff of 25 in 1992 but grew to employ more than 200 scientists, students and collaborators in Winnipeg, Halifax and Calgary.