Organization: Lambton College

Access to innovation spurs regional diversification and growth

Cluster development is essential for community survival and development. It can help diversify industry to ensure communities are not overly reliant on one sector, while creating an ecosystem that simultaneously stimulates the growth of Canadian SMEs and attracts international players to the area. A case study of the Sarnia-Lambton region highlights both the necessity of thinking long-term about regional cluster development, and the active part that colleges play in cluster building through efforts such as providing infrastructure, bringing together partners, and providing research and development (R&D) for SMEs.

Colleges get $6.3M boost from CFI

The Canada Foundation for Innovation‘s College-Industry Innovation Fund has awarded $6.3 million to projects at eight colleges across Canada. The recipients are: Cégep de Trois-Rivières (microstructural, mechanical and electrochemical characterization – $167,842); Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning (food innovation and technology – $540,000); George Brown College (food and government SME product innovation…