Minister Joly announces Government of Canada investment in research collaborations between Collège Ahuntsic and entrepreneurs

Funding will help strengthen local economy, train the next generation

MONTRÉAL, Aug. 29, 2019 /CNW/ - Collaborations between college researchers and businesses help our national and local economies thrive and prepare young Canadians for the jobs of the future. Canada's colleges are at the heart of communities across the country and fuel research that helps businesses innovate and grow.

Today, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie, on behalf of the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport, announced $1.7 million in funding through the College and Community Innovation Program to support research at Collège Ahuntsic (French site). This funding is part of the over $57-million investment that Minister Duncan announced on June 13.

The funding for Collège Ahuntsic's technology transfer centre, the Printability and Graphic Communications Institute (ICI), will support researchers in developing intelligent telecommunications devices and sensors to make food packaging and other printed material traceable, which will provide security benefiting all Canadians. It will also enable the institution to buy new lab equipment.

This investment is part of Canada's Science Vision and the government's commitment of more than $10 billion to science and research, which includes the largest boost for college research funding.

Quotes

"This investment will enable Collège Ahuntsic to attract more students looking to get hands-on experience and training. This will help local business grow and thrive, benefiting the whole community. This supports the growth of Montréal as an innovation hub."
– The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie

"Our government is committed to returning science and research to their rightful place. We're investing in students and small to medium-sized businesses so they can work together on a diverse range of research projects to boost economic development and create jobs across the country. With these projects, colleges, cégeps and polytechnics will be making a real difference in the lives of Canadians in their communities."
– The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport

"NSERC values the tremendous contributions of Canada's colleges in the research and innovation ecosystem. Today's investment will enhance our country's world-class research capacity, help businesses innovate to create growth, and train our next generation of researchers and entrepreneurs."
– Dr. Marc Fortin, Vice-President, Research Partnerships, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

"We are very proud to welcome the announcement of NSERC funding. Collège Ahuntsic is an institute of higher education that values research and innovation, and its technology transfer centre, the Printability and Graphic Communications Institute, is a major player in scientific research at the College. Its team actively collaborates with businesses that want to adopt the latest technologies in the printing field."  
– Nathalie Vallée, CEO, Collège Ahuntsic

"This funding will enable ICI to better support Canadian businesses in the packaging sector and expand along with the GreEN network—composed of 13 Canadian universities—to create smart, environmentally friendly packaging. Development will focus mainly on energy, telecommunications and sensors."
– André Dion, Director, Printability and Graphic Communications Institute

Quick facts

• The College and Community Innovation (CCI) Program is led by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada in collaboration with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Funding support for infrastructure is provided by the Canada Foundation for Innovation.
• The CCI Program is one of the largest vehicles for funding applied research at colleges, polytechnics and cégeps across Canada. Since its launch in 2008, the CCI Program has invested more than $553 million in 3,158 projects at post-secondary institutions across Canada.
• The Government of Canada recently launched Dimensions: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Canada. This new pilot program, which is inspired by the United Kingdom's internationally recognized Athena SWAN Charter, will address systemic barriers in research, particularly those experienced by members of under-represented or disadvantaged groups.

Associated links

• Government of Canada announces historic investments in research collaborations between colleges and entrepreneurs
• Complete list of funding recipients—College and Community Innovation Program

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SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

For further information: Daniele Medlej, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Science and Sport, 343-291-4204, [e-mail]; Media Relations, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, 343-291-1777, [e-mail]; Hélène Pageau, Director of Communications, Marketing and Events, Printability and Graphic Communications Institute, 514-389-5061, ext. 238, [e-mail]

Related Links

http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/icgc.nsf/eng/home