Mohawk College partners with Ontario college network aimed at green technology

[Below is a press release issued  July 27, 2022 by the federal government about the establishment of a new inter-college applied research network, including Mohawk College.]

As industry seeks to accelerate the adoption of new clean technologies to drive de-carbonization and the transition to a green recovery, there is a growing demand for made-in-Ontario solutions to achieve this objective. The Government of Canada is committed to supporting this transition to a green economy and to advancing clean growth innovators in this space.

Today, on behalf of the Honourable Helena Jaczek, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), Peter Fragiskatos, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue and Member of Parliament for London North Centre, announced an investment of $3 million for Lambton College of Applied Arts and Technology, in partnership with Fanshawe College (London), Mohawk College (Hamilton) and Loyalist College (Belleville), to establish the Canadian Bio-Cleantech Applied Research Network (CBARN).

The CBARN will provide research, technical and commercialization support to 65 southern Ontario-based early-stage SMEs in the bio-cleantech sector, leading to the development of 80 technologies, processes or products and supporting more than 110 jobs.

It will target that at least 25 percent of SMEs supported by CBARN are owned or led by underrepresented groups, such as Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, Black communities, members of racialized communities, women, youth, members of the LGBTQ2+ community, and newcomers to Canada. Additionally, students at CBARN institutions in the science and technology fields will have opportunities to develop and apply their skills in support of the participating SMEs, which will enhance their employability and contribute to a skilled labour force.

The CBARN network will provide companies with access to all partnering colleges’ applied research and technical expertise to develop and improve products and technologies that are commercially viable, grow their business and diversify the skillsets of their workforce. Timely access to specialized experts and equipment at Ontario’s post-secondary institutions can be a key support for helping these companies fully commercialize their products and bring them to market sooner.

Through this project, early-stage SMEs will undertake collaborative projects that focus on new low-carbon processes and products, greenhouse gas reduction and other environmental benefits. Ultimately, the project seeks to help companies participating in CBARN to gain a competitive advantage via the development of new and more efficient products, processes and services in comparison to their national and international competitors. These industry-driven projects would be commercially viable and lead to increased economic activity including circular economy outcomes.

Additional details related to CBARN and application process can be found at https://cbarn.webflow.io/. 

To learn more about applied research being done  at Mohawk College around bio-fuels, check out this video.

Quotes

“Mohawk College is excited to be a Canadian Bio-Cleantech Applied Research Network (CBARN) partner and we thank FedDev Ontario for its support and funding. We look forward to helping regional companies explore innovative sustainable applied research solutions for their businesses while providing student researchers with experience in the fast-growing bio-fuels sector. Mohawk College is committed to making a measurable impact on climate change and our involvement with CBARN represents another step toward that goal.”
-         Dr. Cebert Adamson, Mohawk College VP Academic

“Today’s investment reinforces the Government of Canada’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 by supporting projects that pave the way for a cleaner future, contributing to a resilient economy and the generation of good green jobs. Through the Canadian Bio-Cleantech Applied Research Network, 65 bio-based SMEs will be able to increase their competitiveness, products and customer base, grow their business and increase their workforce, boosting Canada’s green economy for years to come.”
– The Honourable Helena Jaczek, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

“Through this collaboration, Lambton College, in partnership with Fanshawe, Mohawk and Loyalist colleges are creating a network of opportunity for bio-based SMEs and a diverse pool of entrepreneurs to access critical support in the Sarnia, London, Hamilton and Belleville regions. Timely access to specialized experts and equipment through the CBARN network and Ontario’s post-secondary institutions will be a key support for helping these companies fully commercialize their products and bring them to market sooner.”
– Peter Fragiskatos, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue and Member of Parliament for London North Centre

“Lambton College is thrilled to be the lead institution of the Canadian Bio-Cleantech Applied Research Network (CBARN). CBARN reinforces Lambton’s commitment to innovation and workforce development within our community and region. This funding will attract more companies and investment while building an industry cluster to support the training and hiring of college students and graduates.”
– Dr. Mehdi Sheikhzadeh, Vice President, Research & Innovation, Lambton College