Advancing Canada's Research Partnerships
CNIMI Helps Manufacturing Companies On Digital Transformation Journey
A partnership of Université du Québec à Trois-Rivière and Cégep de Drummondville, CNIMI provides companies with the tools to develop innovative technologies and processes.
Abigail Cukier
Industry 4.0 and the rise of smart technologies mean successful digital transformation is a must for manufacturing companies.
“With the rapid proliferation of digital technologies, modes of production and operation have been profoundly transformed,” says Hussein Ibrahim, director, Centre national intégré du manufacturier intelligent (CNIMI). “By embracing intelligent manufacturing technologies, companies can make their production processes smarter, improving production efficiency and product quality.”
But manufacturing companies face challenges along their digital transformation journey, such as resistance to change, lack of expertise, outdated systems, privacy concerns, and lack of an overall digitalization strategy.
CNIMI, a partnership of Université du Québec à Trois-Rivière and Cégep de Drummondville, was cre-
ated to help companies overcome these challenges.
The centre is home to applied research projects and a technological showcase that compares the operation of a smart factory with that of a traditional factory. It also provides services such as an Industry 4.0 audit and digital transformation plan, testing and validation of new technologies, workshops, customized training, and networking.
Ibrahim says the centre provides a vital service to the Canadian manufacturing industry. “Digital transformation is essential so that the Canadian manufacturing industry can continue to excel and remain competitive,” he says. “The manufacturing industry is a pillar of the national economy and a primary field for innovation-driven development.”
Bold Exploration to Transform Futures
The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) is a global research organization proudly based in Canada. For 40 years, CIFAR has brought together outstanding researchers from across disciplines and borders to tackle the most important questions facing science and humanity.
Through its 15 research programs, CIFAR convenes close to 400 of the world’s top researchers from 141 institutions in 20 countries. Its community of researchers is among the most highly cited in the world, including 20 Nobel Prize laureates and three Turing Award winners.
CIFAR’s model of funding long-term, interdisciplinary, and deeply collaborative global research inspires new directions of inquiry, accelerates discovery, and yields breakthroughs across borders and academic disciplines.
Hussein Ibrahim Director, Centre national intégré du manufacturier intelligent (CNIMI)
Fundamental research addresses every aspect of life and health, individuals and societies, information and matter, and earth and space. CIFAR’s work contributes to a platform of robust, reliable knowledge upon which new technologies, processes, and public policy are created.
CIFAR also leads the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy, the world’s first National AI strategy, which expands its impact and community to include three partner National AI Institutes (Amii in Edmonton, Mila in Montréal, and the Vector Institute in Toronto).
Strategic Account Director: Anna Sibiga Content Strategy Manager: Nicole Kansakar Country Manager: Nina Theodorlis Production Lead: Michael Taylor Creative Lead: Kylie Armishaw Graphic & Web Designer: Christina Morgan Digital Media Coordinator: Kristen Neals
Traffic Strategist: Karm Rathod
Niagara College Gaining Ground as Research Arm for SMEs
Niagara College helps companies innovate and achieve competitive advantage while also providing students with valuable experiential learning opportunities.
Anne Papmehl
Since Canadian SMEs (small- and mediumsized companies) often lack the time, expertise, or equipment to innovate their products or technologies, many seek partnerships with applied research colleges.
Niagara College is one of them. Currently ranked the number one research college in Canada, the College’s Research & Innovation division offers SMEs facilities, expertise, and funding to help address their innovation challenges. “We tend to consider ourselves their research arm,” says Dr. Marc Nantel, Vice-President, Research, Innovation & Strategic Enterprises at Niagara College. Thanks to government funding from various sources and the services available within the College’s four Innovation Centres, Niagara College helps SMEs get their products to market cheaper and faster. For each project, the industry partner gets expertise through a faculty or
on-staff researcher, equipment, and student help. “The industry partner gets a solution and the intellectual property, while the students get great experiential learning opportunities,” says Dr. Nantel.
Four innovation centres supporting four key areas Applied research projects take place in four key areas: Business & Commercialization, Food & Beverage, Horticultural & Environmental Sciences, and Advanced Manufacturing. Each sector has its own innovation centre, and funding is secured mostly through long-term funding envelopes which allows for ongoing intake.
Niagara College continues to expand its offerings to SME industry partners. The Horticultural & Environmental Sciences Innovation Centre (HESIC) will soon enjoy the addition of a new, 13,540-square foot,
research greenhouse and laboratory.
“This will enhance our capabilities and capacity for project delivery and position us as a leader in horticultural research and innovation in Canada,” says Kimberley Cathline, HESIC’s Research Program Manager.
Though at the forefront of innovation, Dr. Nantel notes that colleges receive only about 2.5 per cent of the post-secondary research funding available. “It would be nice to have more given our close relationships with industries that develop new products,” he says.
Niagara College will enhance its applied research capabilities in 2024 with the addition of a new greenhouse.
Dr. Marc Nantel Vice-President, Research, Innovation & Strategic Enterprises, Niagara College
Kimberley Cathline Research Program Manager, HESIC
The industry partner gets a solution and the intellectual property, while the students get great experiential learning opportunities.
Learn more about how Niagara College can help solve your innovation challenges by visiting ncinnovation.ca
This article is sponsored by Niagara College
How Canada’s Research Partnerships are Addressing the Productivity Problem
Connecting talent to industry through research partnerships can help boost Canada’s productivity and economic prosperity.
Tania Amardeil
Canada has a productivity problem. When compared with economies on a similar scale, our businesses spend less on research and development (R&D) and are slower to adopt new technology. Without a push to increase productivity and immediate action to directly support both largescale firms and small-to-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) the future of the Canadian economy is at risk.
Unpacking the productivity challenge
Low business expenditure on R&D is partially to blame. Among Canada’s largest firms, few spend on R&D. For Canada’s SMEs, risk can also be a barrier – some feel unready to invest, don’t have the time or capacity to explore R&D, or simply don’t know where to start. Building an innovation ecosystem that provides guidance, connections to talent, and can subsidize financial expenditure is key to overcoming barriers to adoption and solving the productivity problem.
“Reclaiming productivity depends on Canadian companies being able to access the knowledge, expertise, talent, and capital they need to digitize, streamline, and innovate,” says John Hepburn, CEO, Mitacs.
Promoting access to talent
By simplifying how Canadian businesses connect to talent, R&D can be accessible and affordable. Through subsidized programs and with the benefit of a network and talent pool cultivated over the past 25 years, Mitacs can play an important role in driving industry participation in R&D.
To date, we’ve made over 28,000 meaningful connections— unique partnerships that bring together Canadian companies with the talent and investment they need.”
As a national leader in the innovation space, Mitacs is uniquely placed to connect industry and post-secondary researchers, creating effective partnerships critical to addressing Canada’s productivity problem. Mitacs also helps SMEs create the right environment for innovation –one where companies can feel safe to experiment and take risks.
Supporting Canadian industry
Mitacs is not only working to support the productivity challenge it’s also uniquely positioned to be a driving force in Canada’s economic future.
“To date, we’ve made over 28,000 meaningful connections — unique partnerships that bring together Canadian companies with the talent and investment they need,” says Hepburn, “We are able to collaborate closely
with business accelerators and incubators and, through the generous support of our government partners, we’ve invested over $1.3 Billion into R&D since 2010 – directly supporting over 11,000 small businesses across the country.”
Mitacs sees firsthand what successful partnerships can do. In data collected over a three-year study, companies that sourced R&D talent and investment experienced significant growth, averaging an 11 per cent increase in labour productivity, nine per cent increase in employment, and a further nine per cent increase in revenue.
“We’ve helped thousands of Canadian SMEs de-risk innovation and growth, recruit much-needed talent, and go global,” says Hepburn. We work tirelessly to match startups with the skilled and specialized talent they need to help them identify, understand, and connect into new markets. We’re proud to be addressing the productivity problem head-on and helping build a brighter future for Canada.”
Learn more about how Mitacs is supporting Canada’s productivity growth at mitacs.ca
This article is sponsored by Mitacs
John Hepburn CEO, Mitacs