Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) and RE$EARCH MONEY (R$) have partnered to develop the Applied Research Comes of Age booklet, which showcases applied research initiatives undertaken by colleges and institutes across Canada. The booklet highlights the key role Canadian colleges and institutes play in building Canada’s innovation capacity.

The initiative was announced on November 5, 2018 by R$ Publisher and CEO, Jeffrey Crelinsten, at CICan’s symposium, Accelerating Innovation through Applied Research. Available in print and online, the booklet contains stories and messages from CICan members across Canada, including details of leading-edge student projects, state-of-the-art facilities available for use by industry and innovative solutions being co-created by students, faculty and companies.

“We’re delighted to be partnering with CICan to showcase the important work their members are doing in applied research,” said Crelinsten. “This research is one of the key ways that colleges and institutes contribute to a healthy innovation ecosystem in Canada. Another is their ongoing emphasis on work-integrated learning for students. We know this effort is invaluable for both students and firms as it allows students to help solve problems for the company’s customers and gain real-world experience that prepares them for future employment.”

The last year has marked significant recognition by the Canadian federal government of the importance of applied research at the professional and technical education and training level with an investment of $140 million over five years for the College and Community Innovation Program (CCIP) in the 2018 federal budget. From 2016-2017, Canadian colleges and institutes led over 7,300 research partnerships that developed more than 1,400 prototypes, 700 products, 500 processes, and 350 services.

“Over the past decade or so, Canadian colleges and institutes have emerged as true champions of innovation,” says CICan president and CEO, Denise Amyot. “We have witnessed a growing appetite to expand the research capacity of our institutions, not only from our members, but also from thousands of private and not-for-profit partners, as well as from students who see the chance to work on an applied research project as one of the best forms of work-integrated learning.”

Click here to download and read Applied Research Comes of Age.