A collaboration of polytechnics focused on driving innovation is getting nearly $900,000 in federal funding.
Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) is investing in the Prairie Polytechnic Innovation Network Accelerating Commercialization for Local Ecosystems (P2INACLE).
Red Deer Polytechnic and five other Western polytechnics form P2INACLE, which aims to promote social, economic and technological innovation across Western Canada by giving businesses access to facilities, equipment and research expertise.
P2INACLE, led by Saskatchewan Polytechnic, will launch its first pilot project with Saskatoon-based International Minerals Innovation Institute this spring. This pilot will bring together polytechnics and industry partners to create a network that will fund and work on applied research projects.
The goal of the pilot project is to identify challenges and develop innovative solutions for the mining and minerals sector in western Canada.
“Success on the Prairies has always been built on co-operation,” said Terry Duguid, minister for PrairiesCan, in a statement.
“By working together to tackle challenges in the mining sector and beyond, P2INACLE is driving economic growth, creating quality jobs, and setting a new standard for how applied research can empower communities far beyond the Prairies.”
Alicia Cafferata, RDP’s lead for the Prairie Polytechnic Network, looks forward to contributing to P2INACLE by providing advanced manufacturing, energy innovation expertise and equipment.
“We’re also excited to hire RDP students who will contribute to the success of these applied research projects,” said Cafferata, an applied research specialist.
“At RDP, we are always proud to collaborate with industry partners to advance economic growth, promote innovation and increase productivity across western Canada.”
P2INACLE also includes Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), Grande Prairie’s Northwestern Polytechnic, and Winnipeg’s Red River College Polytech.
