Grant: Technology Access Centre

Manufacturing is the largest sector contributing to Niagara Regions gross domestic product (GDP), in excess of $2.14 billion in 2012; 16% of the regions GDP is derived through the output of manufacturers. Approximately 1 out of 9 Niagara workers makes his/her living in the manufacturing sector; its share of the regional labour force is a close third only to retail trade and healthcare. There are close to 1,000 manufacturing companies in the Niagara Region, and they need to innovate to grow. In order to help Niagara manufacturers stay strong and thrive in competitive emerging global markets, Niagara College is proposing to expand -- in partnership with local industry, economic development agencies, the Government of Ontario, and NSERC -- the Industry Innovation Centre at Niagara, or IIC@N (""I can""). At IIC@N, companies access an array of state-of-the-art equipment, expertise and services to support process improvement, product innovation and commercialization. Demand for Niagara Colleges services in advanced manufacturing and successful projects have come from local companies manufacturing products including sports garments, fishing lures, biotechnology tests and pre-fabricated insulated home panels. IIC@N is an integral and key part of the Niagara Region innovation ecosystem, and its team of faculty, students and staff from the Technology and Business programs currently offers two axes of services: Manufacturing Technology Solutions and Manufacturing Commercialization Solutions, both of them requested by our local manufacturers. IIC@N is the only regional entity to address both these crucial industry needs.