Photo/RDP website.
Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) is among institutions across western Canada to share a $899,500 investment from the federal government.
The investment from PrairiesCan is allocated for the Prairie Polytechnic Innovation Network Accelerating Commercialization for Local Ecosystems (P2INACLE).
P2INACLE will drive social, economic, and technological innovation across western Canada by providing businesses access to polytechnic facilities, equipment, and research expertise.
Led by Saskatchewan Polytechnic, P2INACLE will launch its first pilot with the International Minerals Innovation Institute (IMII) this spring, bringing polytechnics and industry partners from across the prairies together to develop a collaborative network that will fund and work on applied research projects.
The goal is to identify challenges and develop innovative solutions for the mining and minerals sector in western Canada.
“Success on the Prairies has always been built on cooperation. That’s why our government is supporting P2INACLE—a partnership bringing Prairie polytechnics together to turn research into practical solutions,” said the Honourable Terry Duguid, Minister for PrairiesCan. “By working together to tackle challenges in the mining sector and beyond, P2INACLE is driving economic growth, creating quality jobs, and setting a new standard for how applied research can empower communities far beyond the Prairies.”
The partnership with IMII will promote cross-disciplinary collaboration focused on industry needs and solutions. Through P2INACLE, the industry will also have increased access to high-quality personnel and trainees, facilitating the implementation of new innovations.
“We are excited to be part of the P2INACLE pilot project, a significant step forward in fostering innovation and collaboration within Western Canada’s mining and minerals sector,” said Al Shpyth, executive director of IMII. “This initiative will address key industry challenges and harness the collective expertise of polytechnics and industry partners across the prairies, driving both economic growth and technological advancements. We look forward to the impactful solutions that will arise from this collaborative effort.”
IMII is a hub for expertise and innovation in Saskatchewan's minerals industry, driving change and creating solutions. With support from PrairiesCan, P2INACLE researchers, along with IMII and their partners, will come together in Saskatoon in March to launch the collaborative applied research network.
In May, P2INACLE researchers will join mining and minerals industry professionals at IMII’s IDEATE 2025 event to learn about the challenges faced by the mining industry. At the event, P2INACLE members will team up with industry on various applied research projects.
“We are excited to join our partners across western Canada as part of the P2INACLE pilot project,” said Alicia Cafferata, Applied Research Specialist at Red Deer Polytechnic and RDP’s lead for the Prairie Polytechnic Network. “We look forward to contributing to P2INACLE through providing advanced manufacturing and energy innovation expertise, as well as equipment. We’re also excited to hire RDP students who will contribute to the success of these applied research projects. At RDP, we are always proud to collaborate with industry partners to advance economic growth, promote innovation and increase productivity across western Canada.”
**With information provided by Red Deer Polytechnic
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