RED DEER POLYTECHNIC
RDP Celebrates Renewed Technology Access Centre Funding & Designation

Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) has has received a $1.75 M grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and renewal of their Technology Access Centre designation to continue advancing applied research through the Polytechnic's Centre for Innovation in Manufacturing Technology Access Centre (CIM-TAC).

"At RDP, we are grateful for this NSERC funding which will continue to position our institution as a leader in providing cutting-edge technology, equipment and expertise in the CIM-TAC to help solve industrial and societal challenges," says Dr. Tonya Wolfe, Associate Vice President, Red Deer Polytechnic. "This funding and extended TAC designation will help increase our applied research capacity and productivity in communities across Alberta."

Established as a Technology Access Centre in 2020, the Centre for Innovation in Manufacturing has become a cornerstone of Alberta's innovation ecosystem, specializing in applied research, product and process development, along with technical service advancements. As one of 60 NSERC-funded Technology Access Centres located within polytechnics and colleges across Canada, RDP's CIM-TAC helps to increase the accessibility of research and development to small and medium-sized enterprises.

With the Polytechnic's affiliation to a vast network of national TACs, projects in the CIM-TAC will have the capacity to grow in complexity, variety and volume by sharing access to facilities and expertise. The accompanying grant will contribute to the ongoing development of technology and equipment, as well as the diverse ways that faculty, staff and students can support entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into reality.

In addition to driving innovation, Red Deer Polytechnic's CIM-TAC prepares students to excel as leaders in the workforce. Within the Centre, students have opportunities to advance their knowledge and skills using state-of-the-art technology and equipment and to participate in work-integrated learning opportunities (such as practicums and internships), as well as to contribute to a variety of applied research projects with industry partners. These experiences position students to meet the evolving needs of industry and communities.

The innovative work that is conducted within RDP's CIM-TAC aligns with the institution's four areas of focus: Manufacturing & Advanced Manufacturing, Energy Innovation, Social Innovation, and Health Care and Health Technology.

As one example, RDP has been collaborating with Canadian Sport Institute Alberta and Bowhead Corp. to integrate multi-disciplinary applied research and advanced manufacturing to develop customized parasport equipment in the CIM-TAC. This partnership has helped to create inclusive and cost-effective designs that address a national shortage of tailored sports equipment for para-athletes.

Last year, staff within the Polytechnic's CIM-TAC, which houses $7.6 M in technology and equipment, engaged with 69 companies and organizations and attracted $15 M in investments and revenue. The CIM-TAC is scheduled for construction to expand to 25,000 square feet, thanks to a $12.9 M investment by the Government of Alberta. This expansion will provide opportunities for approximately 3,000 learners to engage in education, training and applied research within this innovation ecosystem during the next five years.

Learn more about Advanced and Additive Manufacturing at RDP.