Ian Brindle, Rick Dykstra and Steven Hudson (Niagara College's Vice-President Academic) chat at the Nov. 12 announcement.

Brock and Niagara College have received federal research funding that will allow them to help local business innovate and bring new products and processes to market.

Both Brock and Niagara College have received the maximum $750,000 in funding as part of the Applied Research and Commercialization Program (ARC), supported by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario – FedDev Ontario. The funding was announced at a Nov. 12 event.

The funds will allow Brock, through its Brock Research department, and Niagara College, through its applied research division Niagara Research, to work with small and medium-size companies. The work will be in various areas, including:

• product and process applied research
• engineering design
• technology development
• product testing
• proof of concept
• piloting and problem solving

Projects eligible for ARC are open to almost all small and medium-sized companies from southwestern Ontario. Small and medium-sized companies are defined as companies with fewer than 1,000 employees.

“Programs like the Applied Research and Commercialization Initiative are critical to building a more innovative and versatile Canadian economy for the future,” said Ian Brindle, Vice-President Research at Brock. “This program will help researchers partner with entrepreneurs and leverage each other’s strengths for Niagara’s benefit.”

Niagara College applauds the government’s growing investment in applied research, Niagara College President Dan Patterson said.

“Applied research is strengthening our economy by helping companies innovate and develop new products and processes that have tremendous commercial value. Local companies are better able to compete worldwide through applied research.”

“This is an amazing opportunity for small and medium sized business to avail themselves of the resources and expertise at Brock University and Niagara College”, said St. Catharines MP Rick Dykstra. “I am confident our community will reap the benefits in terms of job growth and economic stimulus.”

Companies whose projects are selected for the program will provide $25,000 in cash or in kind and FedDev will provide $50,000. Brock and Niagara College will each work with a committee of business and industry leaders to review and approve proposals. All projects will be identified, approved and initiated by March 31, 2011 and completed by March 31, 2012.

To apply to partner with Brock or Niagara College on this initiative, please fill out the online forms at brocku.ca/government-relations/research-and-commercialization for Brock or niagaracollege.ca/research/information/niagara_research_arc_collaboration_project_outline.doc for Niagara College.