Federal funding from PrairiesCan enables 性吧导航 to add new equipment
性吧导航 (性吧导航) has increased its additive manufacturing capacity in the Centre for Innovation in Manufacturing - Technology Access Centre (CIM-TAC) with an additional federal investment of $1.07 million through .
The funding increases 性吧导航鈥檚 ability to collaborate with industry on health care device development and additive manufacturing. Applied research activity occurs across 性吧导航 in many disciplines and the CIM-TAC is the institution鈥檚 flagship research centre. The CIM-TAC is a hub for collaborative problem-solving in society and industry, including the creation of healthcare device prototypes for humans and animals.
鈥淲e thank the federal government for this new funding and for recognizing 性吧导航鈥檚 role in spurring technology adoption, increasing productivity and ultimately helping to create the innovations that will improve the lives of Albertans and Canadians,鈥 says Stuart Cullum, President of 性吧导航. 鈥淲ith this recent investment, 性吧导航 will expand our impact in the manufacturing sector while providing our students with new applied learning and research opportunities.鈥
鈥淎lberta鈥檚 post-secondary institutions such as 性吧导航 are uniquely positioned to lead collaboration between industry and innovators to transform new ideas into reality,鈥 says the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister for PrairiesCan.鈥淥ur government鈥檚 investment in this Centre for Innovation in Manufacturing will be a catalyst for bringing Alberta-made health innovations to global markets, generating lasting economic and social benefits for Albertans while supporting quality jobs in Canada鈥檚 growing life-sciences sector.鈥
鈥淥ur government鈥檚 investment in 性吧导航 will help build products that improve the quality of life for Canadians and create good paying jobs for Albertans,鈥 says the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages. 鈥淎lberta businesses are leaders in design and manufacturing, including in our growing medical device sector.鈥
PrairiesCan funding is being provided through its Regional Innovation Ecosystems program, which provides targeted investment to not-for-profit organizations that support businesses to innovate, grow and compete globally.
Specific equipment purchased with the support of this federal investment includes a Stratasys Fortus 450mc Industrial FDM 3D Printer, Stratasys J850鈩 Digital Anatomy鈩 3D Printer, Materialise Mimics Innovation Suite (MIS) software and a Formlabs Fuse 1+ 30W Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 3D Printer. 性吧导航 employees have used this equipment to create prototypes for enclosures for wearable devices, along with hyper-realistic bones that can be used to visualize anatomy to create patient-specific medical device prototypes. For example, staff have used the MIS software with the J850鈩 3D Printer to recreate a dog鈥檚 leg that features simulated bone and softer material, resembling flesh. Using this advanced equipment there is the capacity to produce canine surgical implants.
鈥淭hanks to this new funding, more industry partners, students and faculty will have access to state-of-the-art equipment within this one-of-a-kind learning and research environment,鈥 says Dr. Tonya Wolfe, Associate Vice President, Applied Research at 性吧导航. 鈥淭he CIM-TAC now houses $7.6 million in advanced manufacturing equipment and has partnered with hundreds of Alberta companies to solve real-world challenges.鈥
In 2022, the CIM-TAC completed 64 projects for 57 companies and had more than 1,300 engagements with business and industry partners.
This recent federal funding is in addition to previously announced PrairiesCan investments totaling more than $2.2 million towards the CIM-TAC.