Confederation College receives $750,000 through the College and Community Innovation Program (CCI)

THUNDER BAY, ON, November 18, 2022 – Confederation College has been awarded $750,000.00 in funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) through the College and Community Innovation Program (CCI).

The CCI program has five distinct grant types to provide colleges with a strong foundation for applied research. Confederation College has received the Mobilize Grant to provide Canadian colleges with flexible funding to acquire necessary sources to address applied research priorities in industry, health, and not-for-profit community-based organizations. The grant supports applied research programs by enabling colleges to collaborate with other colleges, universities, businesses, health organizations, and not-for-profit organizations while training a diverse pool of students to prepare them to enter the workforce.

"Colleges, polytechnics and CEGEPs play a critical role within Canada's world-class research and innovation community. Our next generation of researchers and entrepreneurs need support to help tackle projects that address social, business, health or environmental needs. With the CCI program, we are investing in projects that will have real impacts in local communities and Canada-wide," explained The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.

The funding will be instrumental in supporting Confederation College’s applied research activities and contributions towards Northwestern Ontario’s innovation ecosystem through manufacturing, technology, and sustainability in rural, remote, and Indigenous community-focused applied research programs.

“The money we have received will make a big difference for our College and our community,” said Kathleen Lynch, President. Dr. Tim Larocque, Director of Applied Research at Confederation College explained, “these funds will help resource multiple projects we are currently working on with regional partners. We are looking forward to seeing the outcome and watching our community thrive.”

Supported projects will provide applied research and business support services to industry and community partners in Northwestern Ontario with anticipated outcomes of meaningful social and/or economic benefit.

More than $85 million for 76 grants were announced through the College and Community Innovation program (CCI), managed by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), in collaboration with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).