A new Fed Dev Ontario video highlights Niagara College and Queen’s University as two post-secondary institutions that are collaborating with small- and medium-sized businesses, thanks to Fed Dev support.
The video features Dr. Marc Nantel, Niagara College associate vice-president of Research and Innovation, who noted that the college applied for the funding to better serve the needs of the region’s small and medium enterprises.
“We were able to collaborate with 14 businesses in the region to help them innovate when they would not have normally been able to afford it,” he said.
It also features David Munford, founder and director, Research and Development for Grimsby-based WorkTech Inc.
“We had an idea for software but didn’t know how to get it done,” he said in the video. “Fed Dev Ontario made us more competitive and able to reach new markets.”
In September 2011, WorkTech Inc. was announced as one of 14 new businesses partnering Niagara Research on ARC projects, as a result of a $750,000 funding investment by Fed Dev Ontario. Other partners included OASYS Healthcare (Uxbridge, Ont.), Warren DAC Investments Ltd. (Niagara Falls), Abatement Technologies Ltd. (Fort Erie), Yangaroo Inc. (Toronto), The Green Cricket (Etobicoke), Norgen Biotek Corp. (Thorold), Ultimate Kiosk (Niagara-on-the-Lake), Koppers Fishing and Tackle Corp. (Niagara-on-the-Lake), Pay 4 Performance (St. Catharines), LineTech Design and Manufacturing (St. Catharines), Calhoun Sportswear (St. Catharines), E.D. Products (St. Catharines), and Water Superstore (St. Catharines).
The investment connected businesses with the college to develop new ideas for products or processes and prepare them for commercialization. The initiative not only benefitted businesses involved, by giving them research and innovation support to become more productive and competitive, but also students who became directly connected with industry partners to solve real-world problems.
View the Success Stories – Applied Research and Commercialization Initiative video here on Fed Dev’s YouTube Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/FedDevOntario/videos
Niagara Research is the home of applied research at Niagara College. Applied research is broadly defined as the application of new or existing knowledge to solve practical real-world problems. Niagara Research works with business, industry, and the community on applied research and innovation projects.
Niagara College offers more than 100 diploma, bachelor degree and advanced level programs at campuses in Welland, Niagara-on-the-Lake, and Niagara Falls; as well as more than 600 credit, vocational and general interest Continuing Education courses. Areas of specialization include food and wine sciences, advanced technology, media, applied health and community safety, supported by unique learning enterprises in food, wine, beer, horticulture and esthetics. For more information visit NiagaraCollege.ca.
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For more information contact:
Gord Hunchak
Associate Vice President, Planning and Communications
905 735-2211 ext. 7567
905 650-7820 (cell)
ghunchak@niagaracollege.ca
