Georgian College’s Research and Innovation department will continue to help local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) thrive now and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to a $400,000 Applied Research and Technology Partnership Grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
The grant allows Georgian’s applied research team to build upon its existing Competitive Smart Manufacturing program, and reach companies in a broader range of sectors including retail, food and beverage, cannabis, health care, high-tech, agriculture, and construction, as well as manufacturing.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated automation and the adoption of digital innovation strategies in many sectors," said Dr. MaryLynn West-Moynes, President and CEO of Georgian College. “Georgian is committed to working with our local business partners to ensure they have the technology and digital infrastructure needed to enhance products and processes so they can be even more flexible, service focused and competitive.”
Georgian will work with local businesses to implement digital tools as well as hardware and software solutions that give a commercial or business advantage to local companies who aim to compete globally.
“Companies that embrace strategies that enable big data, artificial intelligence, extended reality and other advanced digital innovations are the ones that will survive and thrive during and long after the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dr. Mira Ray, Director, Research and Innovation, Georgian College.
Georgian and its regional partners, all members of the Research and Innovation Cluster of Ontario (RICCO), have adopted a co-ordinated approach to the region’s economic development and innovation initiatives. Business development, networking, education, and knowledge-sharing events, by RICCO partners including Georgian, the County of Simcoe, City of Barrie, City of Orillia, Lakehead University’s Orillia campus, Town of Innisfil and the City of Owen Sound, facilitate important connections with local SMEs across multiple sectors.
If you’re interested in submitting a project proposal to accelerate your digital advantage, please email [email protected].
To learn more about the work being done in research, innovation and entrepreneurship at Georgian you can visit GeorgianCollege.ca/researchinnovation or check out our YouTube Channel, Bernick Online. You can also visit Innovators Central where we connect students, faculty, staff and the community with inspiring content that advances knowledge and enriches learning beyond the classroom.
This funding is being provided through the Applied Research and Technology Partnership grants, made available through the Tri-agency College and Community Innovation (CCI) program, managed by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), in collaboration with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
source: media release
