Grant: Technology Access Centre

The Technology Access Centre for Aerospace and Manufacturing (TACAM or the TAC) at Red RiverCollege (RRC) was established, through the support ofNSERC's CCI program, as a gateway for accessingspecific technologies and expertise previously unavailable directly to Manitoba's aerospace andmanufacturing industries. The foundation for the TAC was RRC's innovative response to Manitoba'stechnological needs in the areas of advanced materials processing (including metals and composites),robotics and automation, advanced digital non-destructive inspection, visualization and specialized trainingsby the establishment of five major research, education and training facilities worth in excess of $30M thatdirectly address these needs. The College serves industry through these facilities and with RRC's richexpertise in various emerging technologies.Over the last four and a half years, the TAC has focused on the originally proposed service portfolios ofapplied research, technical services and knowledge diffusion. The TAC is actively engaged with both largeorganizations and small to mid-size enterprises (SMEs) around the region, with activities in each of thethree service categories. The TAC served over 40 organizations and provided more than 60,000 man hoursof industry training. The progress made by the TAC in delivering its proposed mandate and aligning theactivities and results with the performance metrics are described in detail in the 51 month progress report.Aside from the direct impact of the TAC on industry, RRC has been able to progressively develop technicalexpertise, know-how and experience in specific research themes and topics to support industry. NSERC'ssupport has also enhanced RRC's ability to sustain close ties with industry in evaluating different emergingtechnologies for the Manitoba manufacturing community.RRC is requesting the renewal ofNSERC CCI's TAC support for another five-year period. Access toRRC's technological assets and expertise by industry would have been extremely limited without thissupport. RRC's continual operation of the TAC is critical for sustaining the momentum towards innovationand on-going applied research programs and services. Successful renewal of the TAC will be invaluable,not only in sustaining progress, but also in paving ways for newer opportunities and possibilities that are yetto be explored. For example, the TAC is currently being positioned as a collaborator in the imminentIndustry 4.0 revolution, the National Research Council's Factory of the Future (FoF), collaborativerobotics, etc. The TAC will continue to provide the portal for engaging industry in capacity building toincrease productivity and competitiveness, and to provide skilled workforce for the local region.