Fanshawe College's Centre for Research and Innovation (CRI) will receive part of joint funding that is being awarded to the Southern Ontario Network for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation (SONAMI) – a Niagara College-led network of nine post-secondary institutions designed to support small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the manufacturing sector across southern Ontario.
The network's $2 million in funding (over a two-year period) will enable SONAMI to expand into four strategic sectors for targeted growth: food processing; transportation (auto parts and aerospace manufacturing supply chains); energy systems (energy storage, renewable energy production); and medical devices (to support access to medical device research and expertise for SMEs). The funds will support eligible SONAMI academic members including Fanshawe, along with Niagara, Centennial, Conestoga, George Brown, Lambton, Mohawk and Sheridan.
"CRI, through our world-class Centre for Applied Research and Innovation in Biotechnology (CARIB) food innovation lab facilities, leads industry-driven research in food innovation," said CRI's chair of research, Colin Yates, PhD. "The expanded SONAMI funding allows us to further accelerate new product development, encourage knowledge sharing and technology transfer in the food and beverage and cannabis sectors, and promote the development of a network within the industry."
The funding is an investment from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) through the Applied Research and Technology Partnership (ARTP) funding grants.
“SONAMI is a prime example of how, when industry and applied research come together to innovate and grow, it can drive the development of national and regional economies and communities,” said SONAMI network manager Kithio Mwanzia. “In transportation, energy systems, medical devices and food processing, given they are fiercely competitive but highly rewarding global industries, innovation is a necessity.”
Mwanzia noted the new ARTP grant will help SMEs in these industry areas leverage the growing SONAMI network to master multiple practices to commercialize products and processes that will catalyze their growth and success.
“These industry areas attract talent and investment from around the world,” said Mwanzia. “Industry-leading companies in each of these areas choose Canada as the place in which to design and manufacture new products and sell them to the world.”
Through the ARTP grant, SONAMI will conduct at least 42 applied research projects with industry partners in the four targeted sectors. These 42 projects will be assessed through a triple lens of sustainability, growth and profitability to best support the economic recovery for SMEs.
In addition to supporting applied research and SMEs, SONAMI projects support student success. Students gain access to industry experience, hands-on learning and exposure to working with industry partners.