RRC Polytech in charge of $95-M grant program

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This article was published 15/01/2025 (396 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

RRC Polytech in Winnipeg has been put in charge of doling out $95 million under a federal grant program for research and entrepreneurial training.

On Wednesday MP Terry Duguid, the minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development, announced RRC would helm one of four cross-Canada networks.

RRC, which will lead a network of 30 colleges and universities, has been awarded $24 million.

“We do this because we understand that in today’s global economy, innovation is our greatest currency. Countries compete not only for resources, but also for their ability to generate and commercialize transformative ideas,” Duguid said at the announcement at RRC’s Notre Dame campus. “Today’s announcement will enable Canada to continue to lead the way in global innovation.”

The grants fund research and innovation in the private, public, not-for-profit, and health services sectors. The other networks will be headed by Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, Simon Fraser University in B.C., and the University of Guelph in Ontario.

The funds RRC’s network was granted will be used to “bring more academic research ideas to reality, support Indigenous business and drive economic growth.” Funding ranges from $1 million to $10 million per year for up to five years.

Renee Cable, Manitoba’s advanced education minister, emphasized the importance of collaboration and innovation to drive the economy. She borrowed an often used quote from Premier Wab Kinew.

“The economic horse pulls the social cart,” she quipped to the crowd.

RRC president and CEO Fred Meier said the polytechnic has touted the role of applied research at the institution and said the school’s model is that of “deep collaboration.”

“The fact that (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada) has awarded its largest grant to a polytechnic or a college validates the work and the approach that we have taken,” Meier said.

Partners in the RRC network will be made up of universities and colleges from Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and Yukon.

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca