Ontario Construction News staff writer
Laurentian University in Sudbury will lead a one-year pilot project focused on critical minerals, cleantech and battery electric technologies, working with Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Nipissing University in North Bay, and Trent University in Peterborough.
Funding has been approved by the Province of Ontario through Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON), to create a Northern and rural innovation cluster with $294,000.
“This cluster will enable researchers to benefit from a variety of connections, mentors, and expertise, which will increase the velocity and impact of their innovative work,” said Dr. Tammy Eger, vice-president of research at Laurentian University. “Our communities hold exceptional potential within these sectors and this funding will help us unlock that potential. It will allow businesses to strengthen their capacity to grow, enhancing economic development through collaboration.”
Funding will support hiring an industry liaison officer, shared across the four institutions, to leverage IPON’s educational and commercialization resources to augment intellectual property (IP) literacy, improve connectivity between stakeholders, and facilitate economic development through industry and academic collaboration in research and innovation.
“This cluster will provide an important link not only between industry and academia but also between industry and IPON in an area identified by the province as high priority for economic development but with limited access to intellectual property service providers,” said Gisele Roberts, director, research and innovation, Laurentian University.
The initiative aligns with the government’s Ontario’s Critical Minerals Strategy, linking research and commercialization expertise at post-secondary institutions with industry and innovation ecosystem partners to accelerate the development and adoption of new technologies.
IPON was created by the Government of Ontario in April 2022 to provide intellectual property supports and services to help businesses and researchers innovate and grow.