Fleming College

Ontario’s colleges are calling for the provincial government to make upfront investments of $30 million into market-driven research to promote industry clusters throughout the province.

“Colleges play a central role in real-world research that helps businesses become more innovative,” said Fleming President Tony Tilly. “A commitment to enhance innovation in Ontario should be a priority in this year’s provincial budget.”

Colleges are increasingly playing a critical role in encouraging more small businesses to innovate. Each year, Ontario colleges work with more than 750 companies to pursue market-driven applied research activities and with about 80 organizations on projects which address provincial socioeconomic priorities.

At Fleming College’s Frost Campus, the Centre for Alternative Wastewater Treatment (CAWT), with its focus on water and wastewater technology, has participated in more than 100 applied research projects since 2007. In 2015 alone, the CAWT worked with 18 industry partners on 20 applied research projects.

“In the past ten years Fleming College’s CAWT has worked with over 70 water and wastewater industry clients, many of whom are truly innovative and cutting-edge. We have seen how investing in college applied research can help local companies innovate, grow, and become successful in the local and global marketplace,” said Brent Wootton, CAWT Director and Senior Scientist.

These applied research projects have immense benefits for the regional economy. The CAWT is currently working with Noble Purification Inc., an emerging Peterborough company that is developing a technology involving a microorganism to clean water. The CAWT and Trent University are working with Noble Purification to optimize and test the technology with different types of industrial wastewaters.

The CAWT has also worked with Aclarus Ozone Water Systems, a Peterborough company that designs and sells ozone water and wastewater treatment systems for homes, government, engineering firms and industry. The CAWT helped Aclarus with research regarding the use of ozone to treat water and wastewater. Aclarus sells their NSF-61 certified ozone systems across Canada, the US and the around the world.

The federal government has increased funding for college applied research. In fact, it was recently announced that Fleming and the CAWT will benefit from a $12 million federal government investment in the Southern Ontario Water Consortium. Fleming is part of the SOWC, and will participate in a number of industry-led collaborative projects as a result of the investment. (Read more here.)

However, there is a need for increased provincial support for applied research. Providing advance investments will ensure that research gets started immediately to strengthen innovation, particularly in small and medium-sized businesses.

By requiring industry partners to match funds, colleges will be able to bring firms together to collaborate on new innovations. Investments in college-specific applied research projects will also strengthen the province’s export opportunities.

“Ontario is home to a number of colleges that have excellent facilities and expertise that can greatly benefit local industry. College applied research provides an opportunity for companies to leverage their R&D funds and work closely with academic partners during the crucial development stages of their technology or service,” said Wootton.

Participation in applied research also enriches students’ experiential learning while supporting commercialization work at small and emerging businesses.

“Ontario must focus on innovations that support business growth and create new jobs,” said Tilly. “Investments in applied research will help strengthen Ontario’s economy as well as our own regional economy.”

About CAWT
Established in 2002, the Centre for Alternative Wastewater Treatment (CAWT) at Fleming College’s School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences in Lindsay, Ontario, is an internationally recognized research institute committed to excellence in water and wastewater research and education.

About Fleming College
Located in the heart of Central Ontario, Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton. Named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, the college features more than 100 full-time programs in Arts and Heritage, Business, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, General Arts and Science, Health and Wellness, Justice and Community Development, Skilled Trades and Technology, and Continuing Education. Fleming College has more than 5,800 full-time and 10,000 part-time students, and 68,000 alumni.

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Media, for more information please contact:
Laura Copeland
Communications Officer
laura.copeland@flemingcollege.ca
705.749.5530 x 1370