Minister Gary Goodyear at George Brown College to announce College and Community Innovation Program Fund recipients

George Brown funding part of  $2 million applied research Green Homes retrofit initiative

TORONTO, May 22, 2012 /CNW/ - The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for Science and Technology, was at George Brown College today, announcing national funding by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) College-Industry Innovation Fund (CIIF). As part of the announcement, George Brown College was awarded funding for $2 million in infrastructure to support the college's Green Homes retrofit applied research program.

The Green Homes initiative provides an industry-focused applied research and innovation program tightly integrated with the training of highly qualified and skilled personnel in areas such as advanced construction systems, green energy integration and computer-enabled, efficient residential buildings. The project will provide private sector partners and George Brown College students enrolled in the Centre for Construction and Engineering Technologies (CCET) programs increased opportunities to pursue applied research projects, resulting in regional economic development and workplace-readiness for students. The following organizations are involved in the Green Homes initiative: ADL Process Inc., Canadian Computer Technology Inc., Centennial Global Technology Inc., Clearsphere Consulting, Convergineering Inc., eCamion Inc., eTime Energy Inc., Green Power Solutions Holding Ltd., SMT Resarch Ltd. and Zillacomm Canada Inc.

"This new grant is a significant opportunity for our CCET students and Green Homes industry partners," said Anne Sado, president of George Brown College. "With this funding, we are in an excellent position to develop new technologies that will help the country become leaders in sustainable residential construction. On behalf of our students, industry partners and applied research team, I would like to thank the Government of Canada and the Canada Foundation for Innovation for supporting applied research in the college sector."

The CFI CIIF funding is enabling colleges and polytechnics across the country to help industry partners innovate and take new products and services to market. By engaging our students in industry innovation, colleges and polytechnics match immediate results for companies with the longer term benefits of creating a highly innovation literate work force that will help address Canada's long standing productivity and innovation problem.

About George Brown College
Toronto's George Brown College has established a reputation for equipping students with the skills, industry experience and credentials to pursue the careers of their choice. From its two main campuses located across the downtown core, George Brown offers 148 full-time and 1,600 continuing education programs across a wide variety of professions to a student body of approximately 63,000 (including those enrolled in full-time, part-time and continuing education programs). Students can earn diplomas, post-graduate certificates, industry accreditations, apprenticeships and four-year bachelor degrees.

Paul Zanettos
George Brown College
[phone] ext. 3428
[email protected]