Grant: CCI Mobilize Grants

Saskatchewan Polytechnic is committed to building a more sustainable future. Sustainability is embedded in our institutional Strategic Plan (2020-2025): “Leading the Rise: Bringing polytechnic education to new heights,” which commits to engaging our community with respect, integrity, sustainability, and excellence. Sustainable development is at the core of academic programming, applied research and administrative initiatives. Leadership at the institutional level has committed to advancing UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and has signed on to national and international accords to reflect this commitment. Success linked to SDGs aligns with Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s stated goals of supporting communities and creating equitable opportunities while ensuring that all learners have the opportunity to succeed and develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values that will allow them to contribute to a sustainable society. Applied research to address sustainability is united under our newly established Sustainability-Led Integrated Centres of Excellence (SLICE). SLICE’s collaborative approach brings together the expertise needed to address complex issues related to sustainability. Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s aim with the NSERC Mobilize funding is twofold. - First: strategically devote funds to launching and accelerating Sask Polytech’s new Sustainability-Led Integrated Centres of Excellence (SLICE) as a focus area for effort in the next five years. - Second: continue to grow our applied research enterprise across SP’s established research centres/areas of expertise. To meet these dual objectives, Mobilize funds are sought for three areas: 1) Enable Sask Polytech to build a new applied research program (SLICE) and enhance existing programs with needed resources for personnel time (researchers, technicians, and business development); 2) Train a diverse pool of students to prepare them to enter the workforce through funding for student applied research training and engagement; and 3) Strengthen connections with research partners, communities, funders, industry, and not-for-profit orgs with funds for engaging community partners in entry-level and time-critical applied research that will lead to larger, impactful, and funded applied research projects and programs.