The Centres for Manufacturing and Energy Innovation collaborate with business and industry clients to help them reach their goals.
“Every innovation starts with a challenge, but that challenge is not always coming up with a new idea. Sometimes the biggest challenge entrepreneurs face is overcoming barriers to accessing the technology and expertise needed to tackle their issue.” – Dr. Tonya Wolfe, PhD PEng, Director of the Centres for Manufacturing and Energy Innovation
Each year Red Deer Polytechnic’s Innovation Centres conduct hundreds of engagements with business and industry, resulting in the development and improvement of dozens of products as well as numerous process enhancements.
Every innovation starts with a challenge
For Red Deer Polytechnic’s Innovation Centres, that challenge is finding workable solutions for business, industry, and the community through applied research and knowledge transfer activities. These innovation experts identify technology gaps and inefficiencies, create and develop practical solutions, and provide their clients with relevant opportunities to accelerate the adoption of technology and drive diversification in Central Alberta.
BRIDGING THE R&D GAP
“The majority of our clients are entrepreneurs or small and medium sized businesses who don’t have the capacity to perform their research and development in-house, and they are looking to leverage funding to access more resources,” says Dr. Tonya Wolfe, Director of the Centres for Manufacturing and Energy Innovation. “They come to us for engineering and design, R&D, and support in de-risking new technologies so they can competitively position themselves internationally.”
INDUSTRY ALIGNMENT
The Centres help business and industry to develop the skills and knowledge they need to meet the changing realities of Alberta’s economy. They do this by listening closely to clients and meeting them where they are at – assisting with the technological solutions that are best suited for their operational needs in order to foster commercialization. Clients can then use the training and microcredentials offered at Red Deer Polytechnic to upskill their workforce and move forward to where they can adapt, adjust, and prosper.
TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION
As there are barriers in place for SMEs that are not able to develop, integrate, test, and pilot a technology before they use it, the core business of these Innovation Centres is supporting and accelerating industry technology adoption. Working closely with other organizations in Alberta’s innovation network, the Centres advance innovative problem solving and applied research in manufacturing and energy innovation with the goal of increasing digital literacy across the province.
“Industry needs to understand emerging technologies in order to contribute to the innovation conversation. Our services are grounded in what Alberta does best, with an eye toward the future.” – Dr. Tonya Wolfe, PhD PEng, Director of the Centres for Manufacturing and Energy Innovation
CENTRE FOR INNOVATION IN MANUFACTURING
This Technology Access Centre is equipped with cutting-edge prototype and advanced manufacturing equipment, staffed by experts in problem solving, design engineering, and creating 3D models, and can do anything from fabricating prototypes to low run production. Applied research services include:
• Design for manufacturing
• Medical device design and manufacturing
• Metrology, destructive and non-destructive testing
• CNC machining and metal fabrication
• Design for additive manufacturing
• Industry 4.0 assessment for product and process design
• Additive manufacturing of ceramic and metal matrix composites, including post-processing and machining as necessary
• Design and fabrication of customized rubber products with varying stiffness
• Welding productivity, design, and knowledge translation
• Augmented reality for design, health care, and equipment training
ENERGY INNOVATION CENTRE
The adoption and deployment of alternative and renewable technologies into existing energy systems is the primary focus of this applied research centre. Staff use their expertise and facilities to improve understanding and capacity of the emerging technologies that can support the net zero goals of industry and the larger community. Applied research services include:
• Rapid iteration for net zero solutions
• Public policy development
• Integration of new and legacy technologies
• Economics of blended energy technologies
• Living lab with net zero technology validation
• Validation of models and development of best practices through Data Sharing Alliance for solar PV
• Energy security as part of students’ core competencies
• Contribution to a sustainable world
WHAT LIES AHEAD
As leaders in the Central Alberta innovation community, the Centres are considered an integral part of the regional investment attraction portfolio. Going forward they will continue to act as an objective innovation intermediary, supporting companies as they accelerate and improve their products using R&D methodologies, and de-risking their path to product market acceptance, scale up, and commercialization.
