NGen Supercluster Grants $28.8M for Manufacturing Innovation
Back in March, the NGen Supercluster confirmed an investment of $50 million for pandemic response support by seeking out and financing Canadian projects that worked to develop essential products, equipment, and therapeutics. One company that received funding early on was EnvisionSQ. Based in Guelph, Ontario, the firm has used the funding to develop a sterilization coating that uses nanotechnology to kill bacteria and viruses.
The NGen Supercluster continues to support advanced innovation and has recently distributed $28.8M among nine manufacturing projects that will increase economic growth strategies following the global pandemic.
NGen will invest $11.3 million into these nine Canadian projects, with the Supercluster’s industry partners supplying the additional $17.5 million. The nine projects approved for NGen Supercluster funding have been chosen because their objectives support the main purpose of manufacturing advanced solutions in Canada.
What is NGen Supercluster Funding?
Implemented through the Government of Canada, Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen) is a non-profit organization that collaborates with over 2,000 partners including technology firms, manufacturers, innovation centres, and researchers. Together with these industry partners, NGen takes part in a supercluster, an modernized business term characterized by a large network of groups that foster economic growth and long term success, which supports innovative projects with capital funding to research and develop advanced manufacturing solutions across Canada.
“The advanced manufacturing projects we support combine some of the best in knowledge, technologies, and production capability that Canada has to offer. Collaboration allows Canadian companies to create leading-edge solutions for Canada that can then be leveraged to capture new market opportunities around the world.”
– Jayson Myers, CEO of Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen).
Open to all industries and sectors working on large-scale transformative projects that can benefit Canada’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem, eligible applicants can offset up to 44.4% of eligible project expenses with non-repayable funding through NGen Supercluster support.
NGen Projects: $28.8M for Manufacturing Innovation
One company has been chosen to lead each of the nine selected advanced manufacturing projects. Here we’ve listed the funding recipients by alphabetical order via the lead project organization, and what the main objective of each project is:
ArcelorMittal Dofasco: The goal of this project is to digitize a hot-ladle steel production process to minimize manual intervention, reduce process variation, and improve final metal properties. Partners on the project include IBM Canada, Tenova Goodfellow, and i5O Canada.
Conrex Steel: The goal of this project is to develop a steel forming press to help domestic shipbuilding on Canada’s east and west coasts. Partners on the project include Macrodyne Technologies and Source Industrial Services.
Evercloak: The goal of this project is to establish a process for the production of graphene and thin-film membranes to be applied primarily in the cleantech sector. The sole partner on this project is ZEN Graphene.
Exergy Solutions: This goal of this project is to create new technologies to reduce the environmental impact of oil sands production. Project partners include Suncor Energy and Precision ADM.
Molded Precision Components: This goal of this project is to design a new manufacturing process to transform the way automotive components are made. The project is aimed to allow cycle times to be cut in half, increase productivity, and decrease costs. The sole partner on this project is Niigon Machines.
KSL Lubricants: This goal of this project is to develop a solution to improve tool life and lower costs by reducing the amount of lubricant required in manufacturing processes. The sole project partner is Wolfedale Tool & Stamping.
NanoCnet: This goal of this project is to create a system to manufacture flexible, transparent electrodes and heaters with clean technology applications such as batteries, electronics, and solar cells. The sole partner on this project is Evercloak.
Orthopedic Innovation Centre: This goal of this project is to combine medical science, imaging, and measurements with industrial 3D printing to improve the manufacturing of orthopedic implants. Project partners include Pega Medical, Spinologics, Conceptualiz, and Precision ADM.
Panevo: This goal of this project is to design a Microsoft Azure software platform to facilitate real-time monitoring of production assets to help manufacturers identify inefficiencies, boost productivity, and reduce waste. The sole project partner is Accuenergy.
Government Funding for Innovation
Learn more about research and development funding available to your business by reaching out to a member of the Mentor Works Team and visit our COVID-19 Support Page to view additional government funding programs that could support your business’ solutions towards preventing the spread of COVID-19.
To stay up to date with the latest information and updates on government funding as it becomes available in Canada, sign up for our Mentor Works Weekly Funding Newsletter.
