CENTRE FOR RESEARCH & INNOVATION

~ A GPRC-PREDA PARTNERSHIP ~

FEBRUARY 2011

Bruce Rutley PhD PAg DirectorCentre for Research & Innovation

Lao-Tzu said, “the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” and I say “the journey begins with the decision.”

Mandate

GPRC is a Comprehensive Community College with a mandate for Innovation (April 2007 – PREDA partnership) and Applied Research (Nov 2007) granted by AB Advanced Education and Technology.

“Transforming teaching and learning at GPRC”

The CRI – since 2007

Centre for Research & Innovation was formed in April 2007 merging the College’s Integrated Research Unit (20+ year history) with The Innovation Network of PREDA (Peace Region Economic Development Alliance) which had been operational since Sept 2002.

~ a GPRC – PREDA Partnership ~

The Centre for a Network of regional researchers and innovators; and

The Model for Regional(Rural) Innovation.

CRI Vision

CRI MissionThe Centre for Research & Innovation provides a robust

suite of innovation and applied research services for inventors, innovators and researchers within Northwestern Alberta through provincial, regional and community relationships.

GPRC: Fairview College Campus

GPRC:Grande Prairie Campus

Centre 2000 Chamber of Commerce

Peace RiverCommunity Futures Peace Country

“One-stop-shop for SMEs”

CRI fundingCRI operates on soft funding

1. PREDA – partner funds ($25000 plus project $)2. AET/AITF $110,000 per year (2007-10, 2010-11; 11-12 tbd)

3. RADF funds CRI August 2008 $3.4M 3-years; GPRC in-kind add another $1.8M

4. IRAP project funds (~$50,000 per year)

5. Industry (Innovation Voucher program)

Contributes 15% (net 10%) of (Gov) revenues to GPRC operations

• Year 1 = $ 22,000 ($14,700)

• Year 2 = $161,850 ($107,900)

• Year 3 = $255,700 ($170,500)

• Year 4 = $153,000 + $50,000 ($135,000) say $650,0000 ($428,000)

“Growing a Culture of Innovation in Northwest Alberta”

8

(Applied) Research•Led by GPRC Faculty•Client projects•Regional Researchers•Student integrated

Building a culture of innovation in NW-AB; creating a one-stop-shop for SMEs; and applied research

Centre for Research & Innovation

The Centre•Administration

•Awareness•Culture of Innovation

•Recognition •Expertise database

•Website

Innovation (Services)(tech com &

organizational)•Idea Management

•IP protection•Marketing

•Workshops•Design/Prototypes

•Access to capital inc.• Innovation vouchers

•Programs (Productivity, PeRMA, IRAP Marketing)

Institutional Research Plan (December 2010)

Consistent with our strengths – Integrated Research Unit (1995-2007)– Community Partnerships– Systems (financial, policy)– Certification

• NSERC; SSHRC (in progress); Tri-Council for human subjects; ethics review board/process in place; CCAC ‘conditional compliance’ CVMA; Tri-Council for animal subjects (in progress).

– Research Programs established• Pollutants to Products (NSERC; 15 funding partners)• Neuroscience Laboratory• Nursing Education and Health Studies

– Infrastructure (classrooms, laboratories, P2P Solarium)– Student Engagement

Institutional Research Plan

Opportunities– Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada: MoU

• “creation of a vibrant agricultural research organization that is directed by a governing Board with both private and public sector interests and investments”.

– Nursing Education and Practice – Unmanned Vehicle Systems– Business– Large Animal Based Research (Fairview College

Campus)– Forestry (both bundled with P2P and other)

Innovation Services

CRI Client Summary as at January 31, 2011 Clients Inquiry IP Workshops Celebrations Total

April 2007-June 2008 41 0 7 19 0 67

July 2008-June 2009 65 0 66 50 43 224

July 2009-June 2010 73 8 72 458 111 722

July 2010 - Jan 2011 15 48 28 95 72 238TOTAL 194 56 173 622 226 1271

Highlights:17 Products Commercialized 7 new prototypes underdevelopment40+ active projectsIV = 6 Round 1; 11 Round 2 (highest per capita in AB); 0 Round 3; Round 4 ??

Industry Connections

Organizational partners (under Memorandum of Understanding) • Peace Region Economic Development Alliance – the CRI is a GPRC-PREDA partnership. • Rural Alberta’s Development Fund • Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada – Beaverlodge Research Farm – exploring joint applied

research opportunity.

Government partners (under letters of commitment) • Canadian Woodfibre Centre (Natural Resources Canada) – Edmonton, AB • County of Grande Prairie #1 – Clairmont, AB

Project (funding) partners (under contract) • Alberta Association of Colleges & Technical Institutions • Alberta Innovates Technology Futures • National Research Council-Industrial Research Assistance Program • Peace Region Economic Development Alliance • Alberta Rural Development Network• Community Futures: CF Grande Prairie & Region; CF Peace Country

Industry Connections

Applied Research Partners (under contract or letter of commitment) • National Sciences and Engineering Research Council – Ottawa, ON • Aquatera Utilities Inc. – Grande Prairie, AB • Ainsworth Engineering Canada LP – Grande Prairie, AB • Canadian Forest Products Ltd. – Grande Prairie, AB • ConocoPhilips Canada – Grande Prairie, AB • EnEco System Inc. – Vancouver, BC • Grande Prairie and District Chamber of Commerce- Grande Prairie, AB • Horse Lake First Nation- Horse Lake, AB • Manning Diversified Forest Products – Manning, AB • Pacific Reforestation Technologies (PRT) – Beaverlodge, AB • Rheaume Engineering Inc. – Grande Prairie, AB • Tolko Industries – High Level, AB • University of Calgary – Haskaine School of Business – Calgary, AB • Vanderwell Contractors (1971) Ltd. – Slave Lake, AB • Weyerhaeuser Canada Ltd. – Grande Prairie, AB • Woodmere Nursery Ltd. – Fairview, AB

2011-2016 – the CRI future?

CRI will continue but at what level remains uncertain;

Support from PREDA and IRAP remains strong; RADF funds extended; no replacement in sight.

Innovation: Provincial Government will fund as the NWAB node for its Regional Innovation Network; industry support, innovation clients, innovation voucher services all continue to mature.

Applied Research: requested Federal $ for P2P research program (5-years), industry partnerships mature; GPRC partnership with AAFC-Beaverlodge for AR matures

“It will emerge”

Edmonton

Calgary

Grande Prairie

Centre 2000

It’s about people and relationships.Coming together is a beginning

Keeping together is progress.Working together is success.

Henry Ford

What decisions we make now – will determine our

future!